Installing Python3.6 alongside Python3.7 on Mac

macos tensorflow python-3.6 python-3.7
Sam picture Sam · Aug 7, 2018 · Viewed 71k times · Source

I'm trying to install tensorflow onto a Mac with Python3.7. However, I'm getting the error:

$ pip3 -v install tensorflow
...    
    Skipping link https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/56/7a/c6bca0fe52a94ca508731d8b139e7dbd5a36cddc64c19f422f97e5a853e8/tensorflow-1.10.0rc1-cp36-cp36m-win_amd64.whl#sha256=3ab24374888d6a13d55ce2e3cf4ba0c9cd6f824723313db5322512087525cb78 (from https://pypi.org/simple/tensorflow/); it is not compatible with this Python
  Could not find a version that satisfies the requirement tensorflow (from versions: )
Cleaning up...
Removed build tracker '/private/var/folders/4n/9342s4wd3jv0qzwjz8rxrygr0000gp/T/pip-req-tracker-3p60r2lo'

No matching distribution found for tensorflow

From what I can gather this is happening because tensorflow doesn't yet support Python3.7. As a workaround I want to install Python3.6 alongside 3.7 and then install tensorflow to that version. However, I'm new to Mac and not sure of the correct way to do this without potentially messing with the preexisting Python version.

I've tried using brew, but it looks like Python3 is as specific as it gets. What is the correct way to do what I'm after?

Answer

nbari picture nbari · Aug 7, 2018

Try using brew for example if already using Python 3:

$ brew unlink python

Then install python 3.6.5:

$ brew install --ignore-dependencies https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/homebrew-core/f2a764ef944b1080be64bd88dca9a1d80130c558/Formula/python.rb

To get back to python 3.7.4_1 use:

$ brew switch python 3.7.4_1

And if need 3.6 again switch with:

$ brew switch python 3.6.5_1

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