[SOLVED] Accidentally changed default version of Python in Slackware 14.2

olcal · 06-10-2017, 11:07 AM

I have Slackware 14.2. I downloaded and installed Anaconda Package from Continuum so that I could follow a Python course which uses the Spyder IDE.
But this version of Python has become the default Python on my system. When I type Python on the command line the shell takes me to the Anaconda version. How do I get back the original default version of Python installed in Slackware 14.2 ?

Richard Cranium · 06-10-2017, 11:56 AM

What's the output of the command

Code:

type python

On my system, it's

Code:

$ type python
python is /usr/bin/python

You can then see what the command

Code:

file $(type python | cut -d ' ' -f 3-)

gives you as well as

Code:

ls -l $(type python | cut -d ' ' -f 3-)

.

On my system, the first gives

Code:

$ file $(type python | cut -d ' ' -f 3-)
/usr/bin/python: symbolic link to python2.7

and the second gives

Code:

$ ls -l $(type python | cut -d ' ' -f 3-)
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 Jan 14 19:17 /usr/bin/python -> python2.7*

EDIT: God knows what the Anaconda installer did to your system. I'm not going to install it on mine to find out.

olcal · 06-10-2017, 12:32 PM

Hello Richard,

Thank you for your reply.

When I enter

Code:

type python

I get

Code:

python is root anaconda3/bin/python

When I enter

Code:

file $(type python | cut -d '' -f 3-)

I get

Code:

hashed:                       cannot open `hashed' (No such file or directory)
(/root/anaconda3/bin/python): cannot open `(/root/anaconda3/bin/python)' (No such file or directory)

When I enter

Code:

ls -l file $(type python | cut -d '' -f 3-)

I get

Code:

ls: cannot access 'hashed': No such file or directory
ls: cannot access '(/root/anaconda3/bin/python)': No such file or directory

Ideally I think I should get the same result as yours.
What do I have to do to get back to the default Python 2.7 that comes with Slackware ?

Richard Cranium · 06-10-2017, 12:53 PM

You should see a .bashrc-anaconda2.bak file in your home directory. Copy that into ~/.bashrc, log out, and log back in.

In fact, the Anaconda installer should have asked you a bunch of questions that I assume you didn't pay much attention to as well as telling you that it made that backup file.

TommyC7 · 06-10-2017, 12:55 PM

Seems like that changed quite a few things on your system (if it wasn't there already).

e.g.: "$HOME"/bin being first in the user's $PATH.

Can we see the output of:

Code:

file /usr/bin/python

Richard Cranium · 06-10-2017, 09:05 PM

@olcal, I've had a (insert your favorite phrase for a bad day here) day. You may very well feel that I have been living up to my screen name in my replies; if that's the case, please accept my apologies.

From what I saw in the Anaconda installer, it should have...

Installed itself only for the user that you were logged in with when you installed it.
Provided backups for any important files that it modified.

Those two things are great, actually. I believe that if you copy the backup file that I had mentioned earlier to your ~/.bashrc file and re-login, that your normal user will be using the Slackware default Python.

olcal · 06-11-2017, 01:59 AM

@Richard Cranium.
Yes, you are right. After you mentioned it I recalled that during installation the Anaconda installer asked if I wanted it to be the default Python installation. I entered yes
and hit enter. Wasn't paying close attention. I did as you said and edited the .bashrc file. The default Python is now set to version 2.7 . Thank you.

When I enter

Code:

type python

Now I get

Code:

python is /usr/bin/python

When I enter

Code:

python -V

Now I get

Code:

Python 2.7.11

I now recall that the Anaconda Windows installer had also asked if I wanted to set it to be the default Python installer. I entered No.
Once again thank you. I have learned a bit more about the Linux O/S.

I also observed that the default Python path was changed only in the KDE Desktop environment console application Terminal Emulator / Terminal / UXTerm / Xterm.
If I executed

Code:

type python

before running

Code:

startx

it showed me python 2.7.
But if I ran

Code:

type python

in the KDE console I got the Anaconda Python. Just thought you should know.

@TommyC7
When I enter

Code:

file /usr/bin/python

I get

Code:

/usr/bin/python: symbolic link to python2.7

The problem is now solved. Thank you TommyC7.

Richard Cranium · 06-11-2017, 02:18 PM

I didn't check that closely in the Anaconda installer, but it might also add something to the KDE startup files for your user to make it the default for that environment as well. I don't use KDE that much, so I won't be much help for fixing that.