IDLE warns against an old TCL version even though I've installed a newer version

Question

I have installed ActiveTcl8.6.1.1.297588-macosx10.5-i386-x86_64-threaded on my OS X 10.9.1 . However, when I launch IDLE by running idle3 from the

Answer 1

Try downloading the version that Python is looking for: 8.5.X. Version 8.6.X is not recognized.

Answer 2

This seems to be broken on High Sierra. After following the steps idle3 crashes when opening a file with "Invalid or prematurely freed autorelease pool" after issuing a warning that FIFinderSyncExtensionHost is installed in two places.

Answer 3

How I resolved the issue:

First we need to install ActiveTcl8.5.18.0

1. Download: https://www.activestate.com/activetcl/downloads

2. Run the file that you downloaded.

3. CTRL+CLICK (both Mac and Windows) to open a context-menu. If you get an error can't be opened, because it is from unidentified developer - you need to CTRL+CLICK, don't double-click.

4. Click Open in the context-menu.
5. Click Open in the pop-up dialog (the left, NON-blue button)
6. Install.

If that does not resolve the issue, we need to uninstall python. This article really helped me.

Answer 4

This worked for me

WARNING: The version of Tcl/Tk (8.5.9) in use may be unstable.

brew remove python3

brew install homebrew/dupes/tcl-tk

brew install python3 --with-tcl-tk

brew linkapps python3

Answer 5

According to the "How Python Chooses Which Tk Library To Use" section of the "IDLE and tinter with Tcl/Tk on Mac OS X" page on the official python website,

The Python for Mac OS X installers downloaded from this website dynamically link at runtime to Tcl/Tk Mac OS X frameworks. The Tcl/Tk major version is determined when the installer is created and cannot be overridden. The Python 64-bit/32-bit Mac OS X installers for Python 3.4.x, 3.3.x, 3.2.x, and 2.7.x dynamically link to Tcl/Tk 8.5 frameworks.

So it seems that

1. The current python installations for OS X do not recognize the latest ActiveTcl version (namely 8.6).
2. The Tcl/Tk version used by python is hard-wired during the python installation procedure and cannot be changed later.

From these observation the solution is clear:

1. Install the latest 8.5 ActiveTcl version.
2. Reinstall python.

I have followed these steps and now everything seems to work.

Answer 6

I have OS X 10.10.5.

1. I installed Python 3.4.3.
2. Ran IDLE, got warning, "The version of Tcl/Tk (8.5.9) in use may be unstable."
3. Went to [Active State][1] and downloaded the suggested, "Download ActiveTcl 8.6.4 for Mac OS X (10.5+, x86_64/x86)".
4. Ran installer for "ActiveTcl8.6.4.1.299124-macosx10.5-i386-x86_64-threaded.dmg"
5. Re-installed: python-3.4.3-macosx10.6.pkg
6. Ran IDLE - still same message, "The version of Tcl/Tk (8.5.9) in use may be unstable.".
7. Checked - Yes, 8.6.4 is there.
8. Went back to Active State and got prior version: "ActiveTcl8.5.18.0.298892-macosx10.5-i386-x86_64-threaded.dmg"
9. Re-installed: python-3.4.3-macosx10.6.pkg
10. Ran IDLE - No warning.