Unable to install Python without sudo access

Question

I extracted, configured and used make for the installation package in my server.

However, I could not use make install. I get the error

[~/wepapps/python/Python-2.6.1]# make install /usr/bin/install -c python /usr/local/bin/python2.6 /usr/bin/install: cannot create regular file `/usr/local/bin/python2.6': Permission denied make: *** [altbininstall] Error 1 

I run the folder with

chmod +x Python-2.6.1 

I get still the same error.

How can I run make install without sudo access?

Answer 1

As of year 2020, pyenv is the best choice for installing Python without sudo permission, supposing the system has necessary build dependencies.

# Install pyenv $ curl https://pyenv.run | bash  # Follow the instruction to modify ~/.bashrc  # Install the latest Python from source code $ pyenv install 3.8.3  # Check installed Python versions $ pyenv versions  # Switch Python version $ pyenv global 3.8.3  # Check where Python is actually installed $ pyenv prefix /home/admin/.pyenv/versions/3.8.3  # Check the current Python version $ python -V Python 3.8.3 

Answer 2

How can I install to a path under my home directory?

mkdir /home/masi/.local  cd Python-2.6.1 make clean ./configure --prefix=/home/masi/.local make make install 

Then run using:

/home/masi/.local/bin/python 

Similarly if you have scripts (eg. CGI) that require your own user version of Python you have to tell them explicitly:

#!/home/masi/.local/bin/python 

instead of using the default system Python which “#!/usr/bin/env python” will choose.

You can alter your PATH setting to make just typing “python” from the console run that version, but it won't help for web apps being run under a different user.

If you compile something that links to Python (eg. mod_wsgi) you have to tell it where to find your Python or it will use the system one instead. This is often done something like:

./configure --prefix=/home/masi/.local --with-python=/home/masi/.local 

For other setup.py-based extensions like MySQLdb you simply have to run the setup.py script with the correct version of Python:

/home/masi/.local/bin/python setup.py install