Ubuntu 20.04 has Python 3.8.2 as the default version. Python 2.7 has been moved to universe and is not included by default in any new installs. Official Release Notes about Python

Answer from Tylore on askubuntu.com
Discussions

ubuntu 20.04 comes with python 3.8 .Is it possible to change default python version to 3.6.15 for a project? - Stack Overflow
ubuntu 20.04 comes with python 3.8 .for a project to run i need default python version 3.6.15.Didnt find proper solution over the internet to change version to 3.6.15.please suggest.when tried to r... More on stackoverflow.com
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Ubuntu 20.04 - Python version problems
I've never done anything with Oracle Cloud (and haven't used 20.04 in quite some time), so I apologize in advance if this doesn't actually solve your problem. A great option for installing versions of python other than what is installed on your system is conda (or Anaconda). I usually use the miniconda or miniforge installer since I don't like managing any of this stuff with a GUI. I generally find it easier to use than virtualenv. The big advantage of conda environments is that each one can have a different version of python. You can still use pip to install packages once you have installed python, or you can use the conda command to install packages. Personally, I'd undo whatever you did to change your system wide install of python to 3.10 (unless that is officially supported for 20.04) and use conda to pick and choose the version you want for whatever project you are working on. Edit: Just tried this to see if I could make it work, and for some reason `./algo` expects the use of virtualenv instead of conda; something I have never run into before. Maybe this will help; I'm not familiar enough with algo to know... git clone https://github.com/trailofbits/algo.git cd algo conda create -n algo conda activate algo conda install python=3.10 # type y to confirm pip install -r requirements.txt # Algo thinks you should have virtualenv (wtf?!?), fake it out mkdir -p .env/bin touch .env/bin/activate chmod +x .env/bin/activate ./algo More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Ubuntu
3
2
June 2, 2024
How to properly migrate python on LTS upgrade 20.04 to 22.04
Adding the Deadsnakes PPA is the way to go. See https://launchpad.net/~deadsnakes/+archive/ubuntu/ppa . In short: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deadsnakes/ppa sudo apt update sudo apt install python-3.8 ...and you have a working Python 3.8 installed next to the platform default. That's what you want, you should not mess with the default. You can then recreate venvs with 3.8; that should be the way to get your old apps running again. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Ubuntu
4
4
February 28, 2023
I encountered an issue with Python 3 upgrading to 20.04 using do-release-upgrade. Here’s an article I wrote with a fix/workaround.

Thanks for sharing. I’m running 18.04 LTS and will wait until the July release of 20.04 LTS.

I’m hoping I don’t have this issue, but if I do I will sing your praises for posting this.

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April 25, 2020
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Hackers and Slackers
hackersandslackers.com › multiple-python-versions-ubuntu-20-04
Managing Multiple Versions of Python on Ubuntu 20.04
February 25, 2021 - Code boot camps and tutorials do ... is the first LTS version of Ubuntu to drop Python2, coming fresh out of the box with Python 3.8.5....
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Ubuntu
documentation.ubuntu.com › ubuntu-for-developers › reference › availability › python
Available Python versions - Ubuntu for Developers
April 5, 2026 - Python versions available in Ubuntu releases from 14.04 to the current development series.
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Stack Overflow
stackoverflow.com › questions › 74498445 › ubuntu-20-04-comes-with-python-3-8-is-it-possible-to-change-default-python-vers
ubuntu 20.04 comes with python 3.8 .Is it possible to change default python version to 3.6.15 for a project? - Stack Overflow
ubuntu 20.04 comes with python 3.8 .for a project to run i need default python version 3.6.15.Didnt find proper solution over the internet to change version to 3.6.15.please suggest.when tried to remove 3.8 ubuntu ran into problems.
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Serverspace
serverspace.io › support › help › install-python-latest-version-on-ubuntu-20-04
Install Python (latest version) on Ubuntu 20.04
February 28, 2025 - ln -s /usr/bin/python3.11 /usr/bin/python python --version · If setup via pre-built package is impossible, you also have the way to build "fresh" Python from the codes.
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Ubuntu Wiki
wiki.ubuntu.com › FocalFossa › ReleaseNotes
FocalFossa/ReleaseNotes - Ubuntu Wiki
March 21, 2023 - In 20.04 LTS, the python included in the base system is Python 3.8.
Find elsewhere
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RoseHosting
rosehosting.com › home › how to install and switch python versions on ubuntu 20.04
How to Install and Switch Python Versions on Ubuntu 20.04 | RoseHosting
October 5, 2022 - In the first step of this tutorial we are going to install the default Python2 and Python3 versions in Ubuntu 20.04.
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Vultr
docs.vultr.com › install-the-latest-version-of-python-from-source-on-ubuntu-20-04
How to Install Latest Python from Source on Ubuntu 20.04 | Vultr Docs
April 1, 2025 - Ubuntu 20.04 comes with Python 3.8 pre-installed. However, you can install another version of Python 3 if you want.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/ubuntu › ubuntu 20.04 - python version problems
r/Ubuntu on Reddit: Ubuntu 20.04 - Python version problems
June 2, 2024 -

Hi, it's been a few years since I used linux, to be honest it must have been 20-25 years ago.
And now Im interested in to playing with Oracle Cloud and have installed Ubuntu 20.04.6 LTS (GNU/Linux 5.15.0-1037-oracle x86_64)
And know I want to try Algo,
I have read some guides and watch YouTube and every one is like this,
https://pastebin.com/Vqm4ijRF
But I facing some problems,
First I had problem with ansible==9.1.0 that is in the reguirments.txt
What I was think is that doesn't works with python 3.8

then I tried to install python 3.10, bur can get it to work
When I run:
python3 -m virtualenv --python="$(command -v python3)" .env &&
source .env/bin/activate &&
python3 -m pip install -U pip virtualenv &&
python3 -m pip install -r requirements.txt

I get this error:
RuntimeError: failed to find interpreter for Builtin discover of python_spec="alias python3='/usr/bin/python3.10'"

I had some other error earlier and have changed this:
In .bashrc I have added this line:
alias python3='/usr/bin/python3.10'
Changed the links to:
sudo ln -sf /usr/bin/python3.10 /usr/bin/python3
sudo ln -sf /usr/bin/python3.10 /usr/bin/python

So what do I do wrong here, can some one give me some tip?
And is´t bad to change the links to python 3.10, when system runs 3.8?

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GitHub
gist.github.com › turicas › aabe80601a69287766cb8a4307e0910e
Python versions in Debian and Ubuntu official Docker images · GitHub
The table below was made by installing the package python3 in each Docker image and then running python --version (see the python-versions.sh for more details). Release and end of life dates were taken from: ... ¹: for Ubuntu current releases (LTS and the last two), this column represents the end of standard support, not the end of life; for AlmaLinux, this column represents the end of active support (not the end of security support).
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LinuxConfig
linuxconfig.org › home › ubuntu 20.04 python version switch manager
Ubuntu 20.04 Python version switch manager
May 12, 2020 - First step is to check what python versions are available on your Ubuntu system. To do so execute the following command: $ ls /usr/bin/python* /usr/bin/python2 /usr/bin/python2.7 /usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/python3.7 /usr/bin/python3.7m /usr/bin/python3.8 /usr/bin/python3-futurize /usr/bin/python3m /usr/bin/python3-pasteurize · Next, check if you already have some python alternatives configured. To do so run: sudo update-alternatives --list python update-alternatives: error: no alternatives for python
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GitHub
gist.github.com › stas00 › d6851b7dc631c44fa273873d1332dc1e
Install Python 3.10.x on Ubuntu 20.04 · GitHub
Install Python 3.10.x on Ubuntu 20.04 · Raw · README.md · sudo apt update sudo apt install software-properties-common -y · sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deadsnakes/ppa sudo apt update · Press ENTER to confirm adding repository. sudo apt install ...
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DedicatedCore
dedicatedcore.com › home › how to install python 3 on ubuntu 20.04
How to Install Python 3 on Ubuntu 20.04 - DedicatedCore Blog
October 16, 2024 - There could be different major Python versions (3.x or 2.x) installed on your computer. The second digit can be used to select between Python 3.7.x and Python 3.8.x if you have both versions installed: ... Python 3 may be easily installed on ...
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DEV Community
dev.to › toddbirchard › managing-multiple-versions-of-python-on-ubuntu-2004-2c3l
Managing Multiple Versions of Python on Ubuntu 20.04 - DEV Community
May 3, 2022 - Code bootcamps and tutorials do ... is the first LTS version of Ubuntu to drop Python2, coming fresh out of the box with Python 3.8.5....
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/ubuntu › how to properly migrate python on lts upgrade 20.04 to 22.04
r/Ubuntu on Reddit: How to properly migrate python on LTS upgrade 20.04 to 22.04
February 28, 2023 -

Dear community,

I recently performed a LTS upgrade from 20.04.4 to 22.04.2, but I have noticed that many if not all my applications installed in python 3.8 (default on 20.04) were not ported/upgraded to 3.10 (default on 22.04). Python 3.8 got simply erased, although both /home/me/.local/lib/python3.8/site-packages/ and /usr/local/lib/python3.8/dist-packages/are still present. I have asked around and figured out that I most likely should:

  • install python 3.8 along with 3.10;

  • mange it via update-alternatives;

  • upgrade all the missing apps/modules to 3.10;

  • erase what is left on 3.8.

Nevertheless, I could not find a standard procedure to deal with this issue, and I am not confident enough that the former solution is valid (for sure is highly time consume and prone to errors). Please let me know how it is usually tacked a LTS upgrade for python.

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ComputingForGeeks
computingforgeeks.com › home › how to install python 3.10 on ubuntu 22.04|20.04|18.04
How To Install Python 3.10 on Ubuntu 22.04|20.04|18.04 [Guide]
March 21, 2026 - Modules and extensions are useful in Python as they add functionality to it. Modules can be installed on Ubuntu 20.04|18.04 using the Python Package manager (PIP).
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UbuntuHandbook
ubuntuhandbook.org › home › howtos › ubuntu got new “official” python ppa with backports for lts
Ubuntu Got New “Official” Python PPA with Backports for LTS | UbuntuHandbook
January 6, 2026 - For developers and those who need most recent or different but non-default Python versions, Ubuntu now has an “official” backport PPA for Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 24.04, and Ubuntu 26.04 LTS. Ubuntu has Python pre-installed, but it won’t update the major version number. It has Python 3.10 for ...