Ubuntu – Installing IDLE (using Python 3.3.2) in Ubuntu 12.04

12.04aptpythonsoftware-center

I am trying to install the text editor IDLE using Python 3.3.2
in Ubuntu 12.04, but from the Ubuntu Software Centre I have been told that there is no package called idle-python 3.3 from current software sources.

Does this mean that it is not possible to install for Ubuntu 12.04? Could I update those sources to include that package (idle-python 3.3) for Ubuntu 12.04?

Best Answer

In the terminal run

sudo apt-get install idle3

(The right package name for IDLE with Python 3 is idle3 I think you can check it Software Center.)

If you are not sure about the name of a package you can run apt-cache search <string> which will look for packages which contains <string> in their names or descriptions.

Edit:

To use Python 3.3 in 12.04:

  • You can try bootstrapping Raring/Saucy. See pbuilder HowTo. (Kind of complicated, but very good.)
  • Or you can try installing Debian+Xfce testing or Xubuntu 13.04 in VirtualBox. (This depends on your system capabilities, that's why I recommend a lightweight DE.)
  • You can even try building Python 3.3 from source and installing it in a folder of your preference, but don't know how much effort this would take.

Of course, the most 'trivial' alternative would be to upgrade from Precise to Raring. Specially good if you can backup your important data and do a clean install.

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