How to set default Python version in terminal on OS X 10.6.8?
macos, python
Solution
The python.org installers for Python 2.x on OS X by default modify shell profiles (for the standard shells like `bash` and `csh`) to add its framework `bin` directory to the front of your shell path. Assuming you did not deselect the option during installation, there should now be the following in your `.bash_profile` file.
# Setting PATH for Python 2.7
# The orginal version is saved in .profile.pysave
PATH="/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/bin:${PATH}"
export PATH
But this profile is only executed by default when you launch a new terminal window; it won't apply to existing terminal sessions. So make sure you open a new one and then try again. If you are using a different shell, you may need to modify that shell's startup to do the equivalent.
The python.org installers for Python 3.x on OS X do not select the shell script modification option by default. You can enable it at installation or you can later run the `Update Shell Profile.command` file in the corresponding `Python x.x` folder in the `Applications` folder. Or you can just manually edit the right profile.
Problem
I just downloaded python 2.7 on my mac which runs OS X 10.6.8. The previous version of python installed was 2.6. When I type `python` in the terminal it opens python version 2.6. I want it to open python 2.7 How do I make Python 2.7 open by default?