PyConDE & PyData Berlin 2024

How to Improve the Python Development Experience for Millions of Ubuntu Users
04-24, 11:40–12:10 (Europe/Berlin), B07-B08

Have you ever tried to install a different Python version on Ubuntu or tried to upgrade your current one?

Lots of posts exist, many are outdated, and some even lead to a broken Ubuntu installation.

This talk will introduce the most common options and their ups and downs in-depth.

We will also give an outlook on what Ubuntu could do to make it even easier for you and everybody.

Updating your current Python installation, or installing a different one on Ubuntu is not an easy task.

There are many reasons why you want a different Python version on Ubuntu:
- you want to use the latest version, but Ubuntu comes with an older one pre-installed
- a Python app requires an older Python version
- you want to test your Python library against multiple Python versions

Unfortunately, apt install python-<version> won't work.

After googling some time, you'd learn that you have many options:
- pyenv
- deadsnakes
- mamba/conda
- or even compiling Python yourself

Why isn't there a single way, and which one fits your needs the best?

And why doesn't apt install python-<version> just work?

There are many blog posts and tutorials out there to install a new Python version, but they lack the depth to understand the core of the problem.

And are they up-to-date? Do you trust them not to break your Ubuntu installation?

This talk will not only introduce and compare all the most common options to update a Python version or to install a new one on Ubuntu but will also convey the knowledge to assess the existing and upcoming options yourself.

We will also look into the future.

What new tools are on the horizon?

And especially, what could Ubuntu do itself to make it easier for you and everybody?

Expected audience expertise: Domain –

Novice

 Expected audience expertise: Python –

Novice

 Abstract as a tweet (X) or toot (Mastodon) –

Have you ever tried to install a different Python version on Ubuntu or tried to upgrade your current one? This talk will explain why this is hard, and introduce the available options in-depth, and give an outlook what Ubuntu could do in the future to make our lives easier.

 Public link to supporting material, e.g. videos, Github, etc. –

https://jugmac00.github.io/data/improve.python.development.experience.berlin.pdf
Jürgen Gmach

I am a software developer with a passion for Python and Linux, developing open source software both at my day job at Canonical, and at night as a maintainer of tox and many other projects.

I would love to connect with you!