Python3 launcher not responding every time I try to open it through IDLE or terminal

In Python3, idle is named idle3, not idle which was a Python2 naming convention.

When one installs the Universal2 Python 3.12.2 distribution from Python.org, they bundle the current Tk/Tcl frameworks with it. And one can run this short Python script to confirm that:

#!/usr/bin/env python3

import sys

try:
    import Tkinter as tk      # Python 2
except ImportError:
    import tkinter as tk      # Python 3

print("Tcl Version: {}".format(tk.Tcl().eval('info patchlevel')))
print("Tk Version: {}".format(tk.Tk().eval('info patchlevel')))
sys.exit()

Megabits12 wrote:

So I'm on MacBook Air, MacOS Sonoma 14.2.1 with an Apple M2 chip, and I'm trying to run a certain Python3 program. Whenever I try to run the program (through f5 on IDLE), it (attempts to) open the python3 launcher app, but the launcher screen itself does not open.

I have tried uninstalling+reinstalling, updating IDLE, updating the launcher, giving both 100% access to the Mac, shutting off+on, making a new file for it to run, and it still refuses to respond. does anyone know anything?

old issue, new issue, what changed?

The current stable release of Sonoma including bug fixes, security updates is macOS 14.4

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

How did you install Python IDLE?

I installed it via MacPorts:

Install Python IDLE support ('idle' via the Terminal works as well as /Applications/MacPorts/Python 3.12/IDLE.app):

sudo port install tk +quartz
sudo port install py311-tkinter

...but hey, now it does not work anymore in macOS 14.4:

idle
** IDLE can't import Tkinter.
Your Python may not be configured for Tk. **

...oh but it is those pesky python etc versions that can be fixed by updating:

sudo port install py312-tkinter

Then IDLE works via the GUI launcher and via the Terminal again.

You run Python3 scripts from the Terminal, Shortcuts, or Automator, not the Dock. You run idle3 either from the /Applications/Python 3.12 folder via double-click, or from the Terminal as:

/usr/local/bin/idle3 &
# or
idle3 &

depending how your PATH is set. When you run idle3, it too will place that rocket ship icon in your Dock that goes away when you quit idle3. Now, here is an example of a Python3 application using Objective-C that resides in my Dock and is a proper macOS application:

That opens a File Chooser strictly for public.images type files and lets me see the EXIF metadata in a scrollable window. It is actually compiled into a macOS application using the third-party pyinstaller application. That Python icon in the Dock is actually an alias back to my /Applications/Python 3.12/IDLE application. I only use idle3 for testing code segments, not for actual Python coding which is done in a programmer's editor (sublime text 4).

> In Python3, idle is named idle3, not idle

Thanks for the info.

In my MacPorts setup both idle and idle3 (and /Applications/MacPorts/Python 3.11/IDLE.app which MacPorts installs as a GUI launcher for idle) work.

Often after updating binaries with 'sudo port upgrade outdated' there is an alert at the end like:

  python311 has the following notes:
    To make this the default Python or Python 3 (i.e., the version run by the 'python' or 'python3' commands), run one or both of:
    
        sudo port select --set python python311
        sudo port select --set python3 python311

Obviously that is needed to make things work more smoothly after python version updates.

> tkinter doesn’t work?

Works after the update, didn't I just say so?