"zsh: illegal hardware instruction python" when installing Tensorflow on macbook pro M1

Question

I'm trying to get tensorflow working on my MacBook pro M1. However, I keep getting the following error when trying to import: zsh: illegal hardware instruction python

I have downloaded and installed tensorflow via this link.

These were my installation steps:

• install a venv: python3 -m venv venv.
• drag the install_venv.sh (which is located within the downloaded folder) file to the terminal, add -p at the end.
• select the directory of the venv as the location where tensorflow should be installed.
• activate the venv.
• type "python".
• try to import tensorflow: import tensorflow as tf.

I'm using Python 3.8.2.

I've seen some tutorials where this exact method does work, so I don't know what's the issue here.

Answer 1

Python3 is shipped with 2 architectures in M1.

$ file $(which python3)
# If you installed python through Homebrew or Anaconda, deactivate your conda env, then run this line instead:
# $ file $(which /usr/bin/python3)
/usr/bin/python3: Mach-O universal binary with 2 architectures: [x86_64:Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64] [arm64e:Mach-O 64-bit executable arm64e]
/usr/bin/python3 (for architecture x86_64): Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64
/usr/bin/python3 (for architecture arm64e): Mach-O 64-bit executable arm64e

Here, it's very important to specify which one to use. You can do this by installing the script like this:

arch -arm64 bash install_venv.sh my_tf_env

if you have multiple python installations, use:

arch -arm64 bash install_venv.sh --python=/usr/bin/python3 my_tf_env

You can replace my_tf_env with any other name/path you choose.