To install a specific previous version of Python on Debian, you can follow these steps:
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Update the package lists for upgrades and new package installations:
sh sudo apt update -
Install the necessary prerequisites for building Python:
sh sudo apt install build-essential zlib1g-dev libncurses5-dev libgdbm-dev libnss3-dev libssl-dev libsqlite3-dev libreadline-dev libffi-dev libbz2-dev -
Download the source code for the Python version you want to install. You can find the previous versions on the Python website (https://www.python.org/downloads/source/) or choose from available versions at https://www.python.org/ftp/python/. For example, let’s assume you want to install Python 3.9.16:
wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.9.16/Python-3.9.16.tgz -
Extract the downloaded source code archive:
tar -xf Python-3.9.16.tgz -
Enter the extracted directory:
cd Python-3.9.16 -
Configure the build:
./configure --enable-optimizations -
Build and install Python:
make -j$(nproc) sudo make altinstallThe use of
make altinstallinstead ofmake installis important to prevent overwriting the default system Python installation. -
Verify that the installation was successful and check the installed Python version:
python3.9 --versionThis command should display the version number of the Python installation you just installed.