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pythonpython-3.xubuntuinstallationubuntu-16.04

Unable to set default python version to python3 in ubuntu

I was trying to set default python version to python3 in Ubuntu 16.04. By default it is python2 (2.7). I followed below steps :

update-alternatives --remove python /usr/bin/python2
update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/bin/python3

but I'm getting the following error for the second statement,

rejeesh@rejeesh-Vostro-1015:~$ update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/bin/python3
update-alternatives: --install needs <link> <name> <path> <priority>

Use 'update-alternatives --help' for program usage information.
Solution

  • The second line mentioned can be changed to

    [sudo] update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/bin/python3 10

    This gives a priority of 10 for the path of python3.

    The disadvantage of alternatively editing .bashrc is that using the commands with sudo will not work.