DOWNLOADING NEW VERSION OF PYTHON ONTO RASPBERRY PI

Hi Stephen.

If you want the latest software on your sons Pi, try the following commands in a terminal once you are logged into the Pi.

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

then

sudo apt-get install python

This will give you the latest Pi supported version of Python. If you prefer an ever more up todate version or a specific version to match the book, you will have to go through a few more hoops.

See if the above helps first.

Good luck

Ray

Ray

Thanks for your response, this seems to have downloaded something onto my pi but how do I now load it up to use and also create an icon on my desk top for my son to use to load it in the future.

Thanks

Steve

Hi Steve my answer to this will really depend on how much you know about Linux generally and what version of Python does that book suggest you use. I am only being a little vague because as with all things Linux there are several ways to do most things and I would like to offer you and your son the best option.

What version of Linux is the Pi using? (Most likely Debian wheezy or Raspbian)

What version of Python is now installed after the updated commands? (you can do python --version in a terminal to get this)

What version of Python is the book you have expecting you to use?

Sorry about all this but to give a best answer requires some basic infor.

Ray

Ray

The operating system seems to be Debian GNU/Linux 6.0

The version of python that is now installed after running your upgrade script is still 2.6.6 and the version I need in order to run the programs in the book is 3.1

Thanks for all your help, I would be lost otherwise.

Steve

http://www.python.org/download/ Hi Steve

If you have a look at the main Python website ( http://www.python.org/download/) you will see there are 2 current versions. Either of these are suitable for learning the language. But Debian is a Linux distribution thats likes to keep to known stable versions. thus your 2.6.6.

However I think that compiling the lastest from source may be more than you are ready to get into at the moment.

Good luck with whatever you and your son get up to with the Pi and Python in the future,

Ray

P.S. The currently "preferred" OS for the Pi via the Raspberrry Pi Org website is Raspbian "wheezy". See the download page at http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads which does use Python3 version 3.2.2 (after doing a sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade) You need to type python3 to run in from a terminal not just python. I would use a different SD card for the Raspbian OS if you decide to try it. A spare card is always a handy thing to have.

http://www.python.org/download/ Hi Steve

If you have a look at the main Python website ( http://www.python.org/download/) you will see there are 2 current versions. Either of these are suitable for learning the language. But Debian is a Linux distribution thats likes to keep to known stable versions. thus your 2.6.6.

However I think that compiling the lastest from source may be more than you are ready to get into at the moment.

Good luck with whatever you and your son get up to with the Pi and Python in the future,

Ray

P.S. The currently "preferred" OS for the Pi via the Raspberrry Pi Org website is Raspbian "wheezy". See the download page at http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads which does use Python3 version 3.2.2 (after doing a sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade) You need to type python3 to run in from a terminal not just python. I would use a different SD card for the Raspbian OS if you decide to try it. A spare card is always a handy thing to have.