python / python/cpython

Mac Installer - Option to not overwrite existing python3 links in /usr/local/bin

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#132,401 2 comments 0 reactions 1 assignee View on GitHub

@ned-deily is already working on this.

Since Apr 12, 2025.

OS-mac topic-installation type-feature
Dominant language
Python
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Description

Feature or enhancement

Proposal:

The current Mac installer has an option to disable all installation in /usr/local/bin

It would be wonderful if this were descoped into 2 options:
1- install the versioned links /usr/local/bin
2-install/overwrite the unversioned python3 links that point to the versioned links.

When Python3.13 is installed, for example, the symlink for /usr/local/bin/python3 is updated to point to the new Python3.13 install. This creates a headache for situations where the User's primary development environment is still Python3.12 and python3 (as well as associated binaries) should still point there -- but they are adding a newer (or older) Python to their system to debug something specific.

i.e. the ability to only install Python3.13 as python3.13, and not as the new python3 as well.

Related: #55173

Has this already been discussed elsewhere?

This is a minor feature, which does not need previous discussion elsewhere

Links to previous discussion of this feature:

No response

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