I have slackware 10, I delete python 2.3.4 and download the latest python 2.4 from python.org I compile it, and install it in /opt/python I make symlink of python and python2.4 like this:

/opt/python/bin
ln -s python /usr/bin
ln -s python2.4 /usr/bin

Now when I try to execute it in the konsole I get a command not found. the only way I could execute python without problem is this way, cd to the dir where python is and execute it.

cd /opt/python/bin
./python

And I want it to run without I login to python DIR. it supposed to be in /usr/bin so why I get a command not found answer.

You appear to have installed in /opt instead of /usr. The simplest fix is to add /opt/python/bin to your path. Most likely by editing ~/.bash_profile (.bash_profile in your user's home dir, for root in /root)

these command don't make good links

you just get broken links in /usr/bin
python -> python

i think like kevinalm better to just update PATH variable to include /opt/python/bin
links take system resources and are confusing

but to make the links use full path and name to be clear
ln -s /opt/python/bin/python /usr/bin/python

Iirc, those ln commands will create the desired links as long as they are executed from within /opt/python/bin. Ln has some syntax quirks that are not exactly intuitive, although they make sense if you think about it. man ln But I beleive you also need to have the dir containing the executables linked to in your path anyway, security thing. I think your user also needs execute perm in both directories.

Personally, I do prefer the full ln -s /path/to/target /path/to/linkname. Less chance for confusion.

Thanks. I didn´t know that making it this way:

cd /opt/python/bin
ln -s python /usr/bin/python

make broken symlinks. it work out this way very well:

ln -s /opt/python/bin/python /usr/bin/python

Well I guess I have to learn a lot about Linux.