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It seems to me that users often face problems when they tinker with system python, such as

Problem updating 20.04 - python3.7 errors,

who attempted to install python3.7 to use AI/ML and ended up with a broken apt. Shall we recommend users to use Anaconda or compile python from source in their home folder?

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    hmm I'm not sure this question belongs on meta! It could be rephrased a bit and placed on the main site.
    – Zanna Mod
    Commented May 12, 2022 at 6:52
  • ok, will do that.
    – turbulence
    Commented May 12, 2022 at 8:37
  • See also this request for a canonical question regarding "I messed with Python and broke _____". While we should probobly have something for people that want to change something, having a general (canonical) post for people that already broke their system by messing with Python would be good. I'd fully support making this question the canonical dupe target
    – cocomac
    Commented May 12, 2022 at 16:33

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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Adding an answer to use Anaconda for setting up multiple python versions is fine.

However, I would be against making it a canonical answer. There are multiple ways to install different python versions. Deciding on Anaconda being the go-to answer doesn't seem right, especially since it's not part of the official repositories offered and reviewed by Canonical.

The official way to install Anaconda is to run a script you download from their site.

I understand it's a popular product, but running any external script is dangerous when you are not careful. Take the popular bumblebee project, for example, that at some point had an rm that wiped the whole system.

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    Fascinating script disaster you have referenced! The change introduced all the way back in 2011 was: rm -rf /usr /lib/nvidia-current/xorg/xorg whereas it should have been rm -rf /usr/lib/nvidia-current/xorg/xorg. One space that should not have been there...
    – andrew.46 Mod
    Commented May 13, 2022 at 2:55
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    Wow! Must be one of the worst bugs ever! 😱
    – BeastOfCaerbannog
    Commented May 13, 2022 at 17:48

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