Msys2: Maintaining two python installations

Question

I am using Msys2 portable under Win 10. I have 2 python 3.8 installations. The original question asked if that is so. I am now certain it is, so for the time being I want to dea

Answer 1

I use 2 Python different versions in MSYS2 shell (version 2 + 3).

What I do is the following:

• Neither is of the Python paths is included in the PATH environment variable, so if something needs Python it fails.
• When Python is needed I prepend PATH=<python_path>:$PATH to the command that needs it (e.g. PATH=/D/Prog/Python/WinPython-64bit-2.7.13.1Zero/python-2.7.13.amd64:$PATH make) or if the command supports setting PYTHON in the environment I prepend PYTHON=<python_path>/python.exe before the command. In some cases where Makefile or configure accept a PYTHON variable it may also be possible to append PYTHON=<python_path>/python.exe after the command.
• In case Python wants to load certain modules it may also be necessary to set the PYTHONPATH variable (e.g. PYTHONPATH=<python_path>/Lib/site-packages)

This works well for me and always forces me to choose which Python I use.