The second Beta of the latest Python 3.8 was released a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 16.04 via PPA.
Python 3.8 new features so far include:
- New syntax (the “walrus operator”, :=) to assign values to variables as part of an expression.
- new syntax (/) to indicate that some function parameters must be specified positionally
- Parallel filesystem cache for compiled bytecode files
- Debug build uses the same ABI as release build
- f-strings now support = for quick and easy debugging
- new C API to configure the Python Initialization
- Added the “vectorcall” protocol to the Python/C API.
- Pickle protocol 5 with out-of-band data buffers
How to Install Python 3.8 in Ubuntu:
The deadsnakes team PPA is maintaining most recent packages for current two Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.
1. Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to add the PPA:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deadsnakes/ppa
Type user password when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.
2. Then check updates and install Python 3.8 via 2 commands:
sudo apt update sudo apt install python3.8
Once installed, check via command python3.8 --version
Uninstall:
You can run command in terminal to purge the PPA which also remove the installed 3.8 packages:
sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:deadsnakes/ppa