How can I get apt-get to install python packages for a different version of python?

Question

in ubuntu 10.10, I have installed python 2.7. I would like to use apt-get to install packages to this version of python but I haven't been able to figure out how.

Things I have tried without success:

changing the symlink at /usr/bin/python to point to /usr/bin/python2.7 - even after doing this apt-get still installs stuff to python2.6.

Set up python2.7 as the primary alternative using update-alternatives - doesn't work.

Any ideas? Thanks!

Answer 1

The set of currently supported python versions can be found in /usr/share/python/debian_defaults. Check whenever python-2.7 is listed there as supported.

There is a so-called python-support system in Debian. When python-support-aware package (i.e., when maintainer used python-support stuff while packaging) says that it supports specific range of Python versions, dpkg calls hooks for updates to installed runtimes as a part of postinst process. There's also alternative python-central system, which does the same thing.

Answer 2

Have you considered the Python setuptools? After you install it, installing additional packages is typically as easy as:

$ easy_install package-name

(depending on how you installed python 2.7, you might need to use sudo)

Answer 3

Sounds like a problem from the repository?
You should send a bugreport to ubuntu no?
Otherwise you can install it by hand where you want :-) (but of course it's more tricky than apt-get foo)