After several alpha, beta and rc tests, the Python programming language finally released version 3.10 today!
Python 3.10 will receive bug-fix updates in next 18 months. After that, it’s supported with 5-year security updates until October 2026.
What’s New in Python 3.10:
- Pattern matching syntax, inspired by similar syntax found in Scala, Erlang, and other languages.
- Support using enclosing parentheses for continuation across multiple lines in context managers
- Allow writing union types as X | Y
- Add optional length-checking to zip
- Precise line numbers for debugging and other tools
- Require OpenSSL 1.1.1 or newer
- Remove Py_UNICODE encoder APIs
- Add optional EncodingWarning
- Explicit Type Aliases
- Parameter Specification Variables
See the release note for more about Python 3.10.
How to Install Python 3.10 in Ubuntu:
The well trusted “deadsnakes” team PPA has made the packages for Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and derivatives, e.g., Linux Mint 20, Elementary OS 6 and Zorin OS 16.
1.) Firstly, open terminal by either searching from overview screen or pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deadsnakes/ppa
2.) Then refresh system cache and install the language via command:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install python3.10
Use Python 3.10 as default Python3:
It’s possible to make Python3 in Ubuntu to be Python3.10 via following commands. However, it causes issues, such as Gnome Terminal refuses to launch. Do it at your own risk!
- Check current Python3 version:
python3 --version
- Use update-alternatives to create symbolic links to python3 (replace python3.8 in Ubuntu 16.04 with ):
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python3 python3 /usr/bin/python3.8 1
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python3 python3 /usr/bin/python3.10 2
- And choose which one to use as Python3 via command:
sudo update-alternatives --config python3