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How to Install Python 3.8 Beta in Ubuntu 18.04, 16.04

Last updated: July 7, 2019

The second Beta of the latest Python 3.8 was released a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 16.04 via PPA.

Python 3.8 new features so far include:

  • New syntax (the “walrus operator”, :=) to assign values to variables as part of an expression.
  • new syntax (/) to indicate that some function parameters must be specified positionally
  • Parallel filesystem cache for compiled bytecode files
  • Debug build uses the same ABI as release build
  • f-strings now support = for quick and easy debugging
  • new C API to configure the Python Initialization
  • Added the “vectorcall” protocol to the Python/C API.
  • Pickle protocol 5 with out-of-band data buffers

How to Install Python 3.8 in Ubuntu:

The deadsnakes team PPA is maintaining most recent packages for current two Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.

Disclaimer: If you want to use the package in a security-or-otherwise-critical environment (say, on a production server) , you do so at your own risk!

1. Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deadsnakes/ppa

Type user password when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then check updates and install Python 3.8 via 2 commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install python3.8

Once installed, check via command python3.8 --version

Uninstall:

You can run command in terminal to purge the PPA which also remove the installed 3.8 packages:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:deadsnakes/ppa
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    4 responses to How to Install Python 3.8 Beta in Ubuntu 18.04, 16.04

    1. Jonathan Gossage September 10, 2019 at 8:45 pm

      I attempted to install python 3.8 from your instructions and your PPA on Ubuntu 18.04.3 and got :

      The following packages have unmet dependencies:
      ghc:i386 : Depends: gcc:i386 but it is not going to be installed

    2. Jonathan Gossage September 11, 2019 at 5:36 pm

      I attempted to install python 3.8 and got Python 3.8 a-3. Is this the latest available from this PPA as Python 3.8 B4 is now available?

    3. Mohan Krishna N D November 14, 2019 at 12:41 am

      I could able to install it. Thanks for the information.

      Regards,
      Mohan

    4. Gopalakrishnan November 22, 2019 at 7:44 am

      Installed 3.8 and checking version by terminal it shows python 3.8.0.It working on 16.04.6 LTS!!