How to set Python's default version to 3.x on OS X?

Question

I\'m running Mountain Lion and the basic default Python version is 2.7. I downloaded Python 3.3 and want to set it as default.

Currently:

$ python
           


        

Answer 1

This worked for me. I added alias and restarted my terminal:

alias python=/usr/local/bin/python3

Answer 2

The following worked for me

cd /usr/local/bin
mv python python.old
ln -s python3 python

Answer 3

You can solve it by symbolic link.

unlink /usr/local/bin/python
ln -s /usr/local/bin/python3.3 /usr/local/bin/python

Answer 4

I believe most of people landed here are using ZSH thorugh iterm or whatever, and that brings you to this answer.

You have to add/modify your commands in ~/.zshrc instead.

Answer 5

The RIGHT and WRONG way to set Python 3 as default on a Mac

In this article author discuss three ways of setting default python:

1. What NOT to do.
2. What we COULD do (but also shouldn't).
3. What we SHOULD do!

All these ways are working. You decide which is better.

Answer 6

If you are using macports, that has a easier way to do:

run:

port install python37

after install, set default:

sudo port select --set python python37

sudo port select --set python3 python37

restart your cmd window, finished.