Update to Python 2.3 on Red Hat Linux 9

[logistix at cathoderaymission.net]

jaybromley at hotmail.com (Jay Bromley) wrote in message news:<8242f4a7.0308282240.4c87f997 at posting.google.com>...
> Hello,
> 
> I've got a Red Hat Linux 9 system with Python 2.2.2 and I would like
> to update to Python 2.3. I got the 2.3 source and built and installed
> it. Python 2.3 itself works but it doesn't have access to a lot of
> packages that are available to Python 2.2.2. For example,
> pygtk-1.99.14 and Tkinter work fine with 2.2.2, but in 2.3 I can't do
> 'import gtk' or 'import _tkinter'. I checked the pygtk site and they
> say I've got to recompile pygtk for the new Python. I'm hoping there
> is a better answer. The problem is a lot of RedHat stuff depends on
> Python and the packages available to 2.2, but I need 2.3 and I don't
> want to junk the applications based on Python 2.2 and the current
> packages.
> 
> So the questions is, can I build Python 2.3 so that it recognizes all
> the packages that are available to Python 2.2.2? Is this LD_RUN_PATH
> stuff? Or do I really need to find out all the libraries in use with
> 2.2.2 and compile these for 2.3?
> 
> I'd appreciate any pointers or references to documentation. I *really*
> want 2.3.
> 
> Thank you,
> Jay Bromley
> jaybromley at hotmail.com


You can use 'make altinstall'.  This only creates a 'python2.3'
executable and leaves 'python' linked to the one redhat expects.  You
can then explicitly force python2.3 where required with
"#!/usr/local/bin/python2.3" in your personal scripts.