Installing Python 3.4 on Scientific Linux

I  do a lot with Python in my cs program, and as an active member of the python community, I heeded the BDFL's request years ago to make the switch to Python 3.

So it was a bit disconcerting to find that Python 3 was not installed on Centos 7.  Fortunately, after a few false starts, I found that it is now very easy to add it:

# sudo yum install epel-release
# sudo yum install python34

You need to start this with

# python3.4

rather than

# python3

No matter, this will provide a nice opportunity to talk about symlinks with my students (note: I document how to make this symbolic link in my next post).

I decided to install Scientific Linux on the last available machine in our lab, just so we can have a look at it.

Here it is with python 3.4 running:

From a first look it seems to very compatible with Centos 7 / RHEL.  Our textbook mentions that it would be OK to use it to prepare for the RHCSA.  Now we have a box running it to play with.