Q: Installing Python 3.5.2 and ActiveState Tcl/Tk
I installed Python 3.5.2 package from python.org and per their recommendation went to activestate.com and downloaded and installed recommended Tcl/Tk package. When IDLE was opened it gave a message that Tcl/Tk was unstable and it appeared that the version was the one that came with the OS and not the one from ActiveState.com. I have more info on what I did at Macrumors.com here: Python installation questions.
Could the problem be that I installed Python 3.5.2 before I installed the ActiveState Tcl/Tk? I found some information about when the dynamic linker chooses the Tcl/Tk framework (at time of import) to link but didn't understand the implications. I'm wondering if installing Python 3.5.2 before I installed the recommended Tcl/Tk framework caused the dynamic linker to link the Apple Tcl/Tk instead. I might need to tell the linker to use the new framework. Any insights appreciated.
Posted on Sep 17, 2016 2:42 PM
I just sat down and looked inside the Python 3.5.2 package installer. It deliberately does not step on the default OS X Python installation, when taking the installer defaults. Python 3.5.2 installs its Python.framework in /Library/Frameworks, and command-line binary tools into the /usr/local tree. Therefore, you are ok — providing you did not alter the default install destination.
It is unclear if the Python 3.5.2 installation provides you with a script to switch between Python 3.5.2 and OS X versions of Python. If you reference Python as /usr/local/bin/python, and idle as /usr/local/bin/idle, you should get the 3.5.2 versions of these applications. You may need to set/unset the $PYTHONPATH environment variable to the null string to access the default System Python, or the following to access Python 3.5.2:
/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Version/3.5/lib
Posted on Sep 18, 2016 5:21 AM



