A cross-platform CLI tool to check and install the latest Python version side-by-side with your existing Python installation.

If you are using v1.2.0 or earlier: Please update immediately.

Previous versions contained system-breaking code that could freeze Linux systems. v1.2.1 is completely safe and only installs Python without modifying system defaults.

# Update to the safe version
cd pyvm-updater
git pull
pip install --user -e .

See docs/CRITICAL_SECURITY_FIX_v1.2.1.md for details and recovery instructions.

Documentation: Installation Guide | Quick Start | Quick Reference

# Install the package
pip install --user pyvm-updater

# Use it
pyvm check      # Check your Python version
pyvm update     # Update to latest Python

• Check your current Python version against the latest stable release
• Install the latest Python side-by-side with your existing version
• Cross-platform support (Windows, Linux, macOS)
• Detailed system information display
• Simple and intuitive CLI interface
• Safe: Never modifies your system Python defaults
• Multiple Python versions coexist peacefully
• Clear instructions on how to use the new version

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/shreyasmene06/pyvm-updater.git
cd pyvm-updater

# Install
pip install --user .

pip install --user pyvm-updater

Note for Linux users: On newer systems (Ubuntu 23.04+, Debian 12+), use the --user flag or see troubleshooting if you encounter an "externally-managed-environment" error.

# Install pipx if you don't have it
sudo apt install pipx   # Ubuntu/Debian
# or: brew install pipx  # macOS

# Install pyvm-updater
pipx install pyvm-updater

# If pyvm command not found, add to PATH:
pipx ensurepath

# Then restart your terminal or run:
source ~/.bashrc   # or source ~/.zshrc

Why use --user or pipx? On newer Linux systems, using pip install without these options may fail with an "externally-managed-environment" error. Use the --user flag or see troubleshooting if you encounter this error.

# Verify installation
pyvm --version
pyvm check

All dependencies are automatically installed.

If you encounter permission errors, use pip install --user . instead of pip install .

This will automatically install all required dependencies:

• requests
• beautifulsoup4
• packaging
• click

The pyvm command will be available globally after installation.

If you are using Anaconda or Miniconda, the pyvm update command will install the latest Python to your system, but your Anaconda environment will continue using its own Python version. This is expected behavior.

How to check:

# Your Anaconda Python (unchanged)
python --version

# The newly installed system Python
python3.14 --version

To use the updated Python:

1. Use it directly: python3.14 your_script.py
2. Create a new environment: python3.14 -m venv myenv
3. Continue using Anaconda (recommended for data science work)

Why does this happen?

Anaconda manages its own Python installation separately from system Python. This prevents conflicts between your Anaconda packages and system packages.

For detailed installation instructions, see INSTALL.md

Simply run the tool to check your Python version:

pyvm
# or
pyvm check

Output example:

Checking Python version... (Current: 3.12.3)

========================================
⚠ A new version (3.14.0) is available!

Current version:   3.12.3
Latest version:    3.14.0
========================================

💡 Tip: Run 'pyvm update' to upgrade Python

Update to the latest version:

pyvm update

Update to a specific version:

pyvm update --version 3.11.5

For automatic installation without confirmation:

pyvm update --auto
pyvm update --version 3.11.5 --auto

IMPORTANT: This command installs Python side-by-side. Your system Python remains unchanged.

Once installation completes, the new Python is available side-by-side with your existing version:

Linux/macOS:

# Your old Python (unchanged)
python3 --version          # Shows: Python 3.10.x (or whatever you had)

# Your new Python (side-by-side)
python3.12 --version       # Shows: Python 3.12.x

# Use the new Python for a script
python3.12 your_script.py

# Create a virtual environment with the new Python
python3.12 -m venv myproject
source myproject/bin/activate
python --version           # Now shows 3.12.x in this venv

Windows:

# List all Python versions
py --list

# Use specific version
py -3.12 your_script.py

# Create virtual environment
py -3.12 -m venv myproject
myproject\Scripts\activate

Why doesn't python3 automatically use the new version?

This is intentional and safe! Your system tools (package managers, system utilities) depend on the Python version they were built with. Changing the default could break them. The tool gives you the new Python to use when YOU choose, without risking your system.

pyvm info

Output example:

==================================================
           System Information
==================================================
Operating System: Linux
Architecture:     amd64
Python Version:   3.12.3
Python Path:      /usr/bin/python3
Platform:         Linux-5.15.0-generic-x86_64

Admin/Sudo:       No
==================================================

pyvm --version

After installation, you have multiple Python versions side-by-side. Here's how to use them effectively:

# Your system Python (unchanged)
python3 --version          # Shows: Python 3.10.x

# Your new Python (side-by-side)
python3.12 --version       # Shows: Python 3.12.x

# See all installed versions
ls /usr/bin/python* | grep -E 'python[0-9]'

This is the safest and most flexible approach:

# Create project with new Python
python3.12 -m venv myproject
source myproject/bin/activate

# Now you're using the new Python in this project
python --version           # Shows: Python 3.12.x
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Deactivate when done
deactivate

Benefits:

• Isolated dependencies per project
• No system modifications
• Easy to switch between Python versions
• No risk of breaking system tools

Always specify which version you want:

# Run scripts with new Python
python3.12 your_script.py

# Install packages for new Python
python3.12 -m pip install requests

Warning: Only do this if you understand the risks!

Changing your system's default Python can break system tools. If you still want to proceed:

# Manually configure (at your own risk)
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python3 python3 /usr/bin/python3.12 1
sudo update-alternatives --config python3

We do NOT recommend this approach. Virtual environments are much safer as they do not modify system defaults and prevent dependency conflicts.

Windows Python Launcher (py) handles multiple versions automatically:

# Use specific version
py -3.14 your_script.py

# List all versions
py --list

# Set default in py.ini (optional)
# Create or edit: C:\Windows\py.ini
# Add: [defaults]
#      python=3.14

• Downloads the official Python installer (.exe)
• Runs the installer interactively
• Recommendation: Check "Add Python to PATH" during installation

• Uses system package managers (apt, yum, dnf)
• May require sudo privileges
• For Ubuntu/Debian: Uses deadsnakes PPA for latest versions
• Alternative: Install pyenv for easier version management

• Uses Homebrew if available
• Falls back to official installer download link
• Run brew install [email protected] for Homebrew installation

• Python 3.7 or higher
• Internet connection
• Admin/sudo privileges (for updates on some systems)

• requests – HTTP library
• beautifulsoup4 – HTML parsing
• packaging – Version comparison
• click – CLI framework

• 0 – Success or up-to-date
• 1 – Update available or error occurred
• 130 – Operation cancelled by user (Ctrl+C)

Error message:

error: externally-managed-environment
× This environment is externally managed

This is a security feature on newer Linux systems (Ubuntu 23.04+, Debian 12+) that prevents breaking system Python packages.

Solutions:

Option 1: Use --user flag (Recommended)

pip install --user pyvm-updater

Option 2: Use pipx (Best for CLI tools)

# Install pipx first
sudo apt install pipx

# Install pyvm-updater with pipx
pipx install pyvm-updater

Option 3: Use a virtual environment

python3 -m venv myenv
source myenv/bin/activate
pip install pyvm-updater

Option 4: Override (NOT recommended)

pip install --break-system-packages pyvm-updater  # ⚠️ Not recommended

The installation directory is not in your PATH.

If you installed with pip install --user:

# Add to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc
export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"

# Then reload your shell
source ~/.bashrc  # or source ~/.zshrc

If you installed with pipx:

# Add pipx bin directory to PATH
pipx ensurepath

# Then restart your terminal OR reload:
source ~/.bashrc  # for bash
source ~/.zshrc   # for zsh

After running pipx ensurepath, you should see a message that PATH was updated. Restart your terminal to apply changes.

Windows:

• Add C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python3xx\Scripts to PATH
• Or restart your terminal/command prompt

If you're using Anaconda, see the Special Note for Anaconda Users section above.

For regular users, check which Python is being used:

which python3      # Linux/macOS
where python       # Windows

This happens with Anaconda. Use this instead:

pip install --user .    # Instead of: pip install --user -e .

The difference:

• pip install . - Regular installation (recommended)
• pip install -e . - Editable/development mode (may conflict with Anaconda)

If you get import errors, install dependencies manually:

pip install requests beautifulsoup4 packaging click

Some operations require elevated privileges:

sudo pyvm update

• Make sure you have administrator privileges
• Temporarily disable antivirus if installer is blocked
• Download manually from https://www.python.org/downloads/

This is normal! The new Python is installed alongside your old version:

# Check all installed Python versions
ls /usr/bin/python*           # Linux/macOS
py --list                     # Windows

# Use the new version specifically
python3.14 --version          # Linux/macOS
py -3.14 --version           # Windows

Want to make the new Python your default? See the Option for Advanced Users: Change System Default section.

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/shreyasmene06/pyvm-updater.git
cd pyvm-updater

# Install in editable mode
pip install -e .

# Run tests (if available)
python -m pytest

# Run all tests
python -m pytest

# Run with coverage
python -m pytest --cov=pyvm_updater

# Run specific test file
python -m pytest tests/test_specific.py

Contributions are welcome and appreciated. To contribute:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/your-feature-name)
3. Make your changes and commit them with clear, descriptive messages
4. Write or update tests as needed
5. Ensure all tests pass
6. Push to your fork (git push origin feature/your-feature-name)
7. Open a Pull Request with a clear description of your changes

• Follow PEP 8 style guidelines for Python code
• Add tests for new features
• Update documentation as needed
• Keep commits focused and atomic
• Write clear commit messages

For more details, see CONTRIBUTING.md

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.

Shreyas Mene

This tool downloads and installs software from python.org. Always verify the authenticity of downloaded files. The authors are not responsible for any issues arising from Python installations.