unexpected quitting of python 3.5

Hello avid196,

You will have to contact the Tcl/tk developer and ask them to fix it.

The current Python dot org installer for Mac v3.5.2, and its contents — was built on June 26, 2016. This predates macOS Sierra, and probably expects an El Capitan installation environment. Apple continues to ship the outdated Tcl/Tk 8.5.9.

I have Python 3.5.2 built from source code on El Capitan, and have both Apple's Tcl/Tk 8.5.9, and ActiveState's Tcl/Tk 8.6.4 installed. Here is the result of using idle3, which does not crash. I have to fix the idle3 colors...

With just the Apple Tcl/Tk 8.5.9 (default) frameworks on macOS Sierra 10.12.2, just launching idle3 causes it to crash. Therefore, I am less inclined to believe that the Sierra issues are Tcl/Tk version as much as they are the age of the build against El Capitan frameworks that may have changed for Sierra.

I had updated to macOS Sierra 10.12.2, and installed Xcode 8.2 and the corresponding command-line tools. Previously, I mentioned that my Sierra system only had the Apple Tcl/Tk 8.5.9 frameworks installed. I just installed the ActiveState Community Tcl/Tk 8.6.4 frameworks, removed my Python 3.5.2 installation, and then recompiled it.

When I launched idle3, all was normal as shown by the following screen capture, and you will note that the Python build also now picks up the ActiveState Tcl/Tk frameworks as it should:

This appears to be an old bug relating to IDLE and quote characters on a non-US keyboard.

I'm not sure what the exact solution is. It is Python, so that means digging deep into your shared libraries to fix an obscure bug.

Do not install Tcl/Tk 8.5.9 into macOS Sierra, as that specific version is already provided by Apple in the operating system installation. Provided that you have not already installed Tcl/Tk 8.5.9 frameworks, then move those specific Tcl/Tk 8.5.9 folders that you have shown — to the Trash.

Etresoft has a point about the keyboard in use.

You need to read about the PYTHONPATH environment variable in the Python v3.5.2 documentation, and make certain that you have it set to the Python v3.5.2 library location — only when you are using Python v3.5.2. If you are launching idle3, and it is looking in the default, blank PYTHONPATH libary location, then it is attempting to use the System Python 2.7.10 libraries, and that will explode idle3 too.

Python dot org only recommends ActiveState 8.5.18 for Python 2.7.12, and 3.5.2 Mac installers. My implementation of Python 3.5.2 is compiled in macOS Sierra with current compilation tools, and that is why I have Tcl/Tk 8.6.4 functionality. Remove your Python 3.5.2, install the recommended ActiveState 8.5.18, and then reinstall Python 3.5.2 back into your /Applications folder.