How to Install Python 3.8 on Amazon Linux

By 2 Mins Read

Python is a powerful programming language. It is very friendly and easy to learn. During the latest update of this article Python 3.8.12 (of Python 3.8 series) latest stable version is available to download and install. This tutorial will help you to install Python 3.8 on Amazon Linux systems.

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Step 1 – Prerequaities

This Python installation required the GCC compiler on your system. Login to your server using ssh or shell access. Now, use the following command to install prerequisites for Python before installing it.

sudo yum install gcc openssl-devel bzip2-devel libffi-devel  zlib-devel

Step 2 – Download Python 3.8

Download the Python from the Python official website. You can also download the latest version in place of the specified below.

cd /opt
sudo wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.8.12/Python-3.8.12.tgz

Now extract the downloaded package.

sudo tar xzf Python-3.8.12.tgz

Step 3 – Install Python 3.8

Use the below set of commands to compile Python 3.8 from the source code and install using the altinstall command.

cd Python-3.8.12
sudo ./configure --enable-optimizations
sudo make altinstall

make altinstall is used to prevent replacing the default python binary file /usr/bin/python.

Now remove the downloaded source archive file from your system

sudo rm -f /opt/Python-3.8.12.tgz

Step 4 – Check Python Version

The Python 3.8 binary is installed under /usr/local/bin directory. As we have not overwritten the current Python version, you need to run Python 3.8 command as following:

python3.8 -V

Python 3.8.12
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10 Comments

  1. Truth Talker on

    Why would one do all this instead of just following the AWS documentation?

    “amazon-linux-extras install python3.8” will install Python/Pip 3.8. To access them just use “python3.8” or “pip3.8” at the console.

    Reply
  3. Tommy on

    sudo ./configure –enable-loadable-sqlite-extensions –enable-optimizations

    if you are interestest at least to use jupyter

    Reply
  5. Dave on

    Installed on an AWS Linux 2 instance. If I try to run python3.8 from root prompt it does not find the command. If I exit root mode the command runs fine. Path issue?

    Reply
  6. Sudharsan on

    Great help and really strange that we don’t have AMI in amazon with latest python 3.8.2. I was struggling to package my dependent libraries in lambda and your detailed steps really benefitted me.

    Thanks,
    -Sudharsan.

    Reply
  8. Mat on

    Hi Rahul,

    ty for this great instruction.

    I have two remarks:

    – Shouldn’t the first command (Step 1) be execuded with sudo?

    sudo yum install gcc openssl-devel bzip2-devel libffi-devel

    – We downloaded the .tgz file to /opt – so shouldn’t the remove command be:

    sudo rm /opt/Python-3.8.2.tgz

    Regards
    Mat

    Reply
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