Install Python3 on a Mac
Written by Art, June 18, 2017
Mar 10, 2019. It will make programming on Mac OS X a lot easier, in the end! For some more information, see the Homebrew and Python wiki page. Option 2: Anaconda. Anaconda is an all-in-one solution that will set up Python and all of the scientific Python tools all at once. All you have to do is download and install it!
Prerequisites for installing Python3 on Mac
Install Xcode
Xcode is Apple's Integrated Development Environment (IDE). You might already have Xcode on your Mac. If not, you can get Xcode from Apple appstore.
XcodeInstall Brew
Homebrew installs the stuff you need. Homebrew is a package manager for Mac OS
Download Python 3 For Mac
Step 1. Launch Terminal.
Go to Launchpad – Other – Terminal
Step 2. Install HomeBrew
Install Python3 with Brew
Enter brew command into terminal
brew install python3
Optional, PATH environment
Set up PATH environment variable, if you used HomeBrew to install Python3, then HomeBrew already added PATH.
Do not change PATH environment if you can launch python3 from terminal.
Add the following line to your ~/.profile file
export PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:$PATH
Usually your Python installation directory looks like this, add it to your PATH
PATH='/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.6/bin:${PATH}'
Python for Mac OS X
Python comes pre-installed on Mac OS X so it is easy to startusing. However, to take advantage of the latest versions ofPython, you will need to download and install newer versionsalongside the system ones. The easiest way to do that is toinstall one of the binary installers for OS X from thePython Download page. Installers areavailable for the latest Python 3 and Python 2 releases thatwill work on all Macs that run Mac OS X 10.5 and later.
Python releases include IDLE, Python's built-in interactivedevelopment environment. If you download and install Pythonfrom the release page, you may also need to download and installa newer version of Tcl/Tk for OS X. See theIDLE and Tkinter on OS X page formore information.
You can run a Python interpreter by double-clicking onApplications / Utilities / Terminal and typing python3 (if you'veinstalled a version of Python 3) or python (to use Python 2) inthe window that opens up. You can also launch IDLE for the Pythonversion you have installed by double-clicking its icon inthe appropriate Python version folder in the Applications folderor you can also just type idle3 or idle in a terminal window.
There are many thousands of additional Python software packagesavailable through PyPI, the PythonPackage Index. We recommend you use thepip tool to simplifyinstalling and managing additional packages. pip is includedwith Python 3.4 releases; for earlier releases, follow the pipinstall instructions.
Among the packages available through PyPI are some that arespecifically for OS X environments. Among these are:
Macos Python 3.8
- pyobjc which providesa bridge between Python and Objective-C, allowing you to writefull-featured native Cocoa applications in pure Python.
- py2app which allowsyou to make standalone OS X double-clickable application bundlesand plugins from Python scripts.
For more information about Python on OS X, see the mailing list and archivesfor thePython-Macintosh Special Interest Group.
Alternative Packages for Mac OS X.
Install Python On Mac
- ActiveState ActivePython(commercial and community versions, including scientific computing modules).
- Enthought Python DistributionThe Enthought Python Distribution provides scientists with a comprehensive setof tools to perform rigorous data analysis and visualization.
Download Pycharm
Python and a comprehensive set of third-party packages and libraries are alsoavailable from several open source package manager projects for OS X,including: