Chapter 2. Installing and using Python

In RHEL 9, Python 3.9 is the default Python implementation. Since RHEL 9.2, Python 3.11 is available as the python3.11 package suite.

The unversioned python command points to the default Python 3.9 version.

2.1. Installing Python 3

The default Python implementation is usually installed by default. To install it manually, use the following procedure.

Procedure

  • To install Python 3.9, use: 

    # dnf install python3

  • To install Python 3.11, use: 

    # dnf install python3.11

Verification steps

  • To verify the Python version installed on your system, use the --version option with the python command specific for your required version of Python.

  • For Python 3.9: 

    $ python3 --version

  • For Python 3.11: 

    $ python3.11 --version

2.2. Installing additional Python 3 packages

Packages prefixed with python3- contain add-on modules for the default Python 3.9 version. Packages prefixed with python3.11- contain add-on modules for Python 3.11.

Procedure

  • To install the Requests module for Python 3.9, use: 

    # dnf install python3-requests

  • To install the pip package installer from Python 3.9, use: 

    # dnf install python3-pip

  • To install the pip package installer from Python 3.11, use: 

    # dnf install python3.11-pip

Additional resources

2.3. Installing additional Python 3 tools for developers

Additional Python tools for developers are distributed mostly through the CodeReady Linux Builder (CRB) repository.

The python3-pytest package and its dependencies are available in the AppStream repository.

The CRB repository contains, for example, the following packages:

  • python3*-idle
  • python3*-debug
  • python3*-Cython
  • python3.11-pytest and its dependencies.
Important

The content in the CodeReady Linux Builder repository is unsupported by Red Hat.

Note

Not all upstream Python-related packages are available in RHEL.

To install packages from the CRB repository, use the following procedure.

Procedure

  1. Enable the CodeReady Linux Builder repository: 

    # subscription-manager repos --enable codeready-builder-for-rhel-9-x86_64-rpms

  2. Install the python3*-Cython package:

    • For Python 3.9: 

      # dnf install python3-Cython

    • For Python 3.11: 

      # dnf install python3.11-Cython

Additional resources

2.4. Using Python

The following procedure contains examples of running the Python interpreter or Python-related commands.

Prerequisites

  • Ensure that Python is installed.
  • If you want to download and install third-party applications for Python 3.11, install the python3.11-pip package.

Procedure

  • To run the Python 3.9 interpreter or related commands, use, for example: 

    $ python3
$ python3 -m venv --help
$ python3 -m pip install package
$ pip3 install package

  • To run the Python 3.11 interpreter or related commands, use, for example: 

    $ python3.11
$ python3.11 -m venv --help
$ python3.11 -m pip install package
$ pip3.11 install package