Ubuntu 20.10 Python 3.8 - Python

Ubuntu 20.10 is the latest release of the Ubuntu operating system and it comes with Python 3.8 pre-installed. Python is a high-level programming language that is widely used by programmers around the world for various purposes.

Python 3.8 is a stable release that comes with many new features and improvements that make it easier to use and more efficient. Some of the new features include:

• The walrus operator (:=) which allows you to assign values to variables as part of an expression.
• f-strings which provide a simple way to format strings with variables.
• New syntax features such as positional-only parameters and improved type annotations that make it easier to write clear and concise code.

Installing Python Packages

When working with Python, you'll often need to install additional packages that are not included with the standard installation. To install a package in Ubuntu 20.10, you can use the following command:

sudo apt-get install <package-name>

For example, to install the numpy package, you would run the following command:

sudo apt-get install python3-numpy

If you prefer to use a package manager like pip, you can install it using the following command:

sudo apt-get install python3-pip

Once pip is installed, you can use it to install Python packages using the command:

pip install <package-name>

Setting Up a Virtual Environment

It's a good idea to set up a virtual environment when working with Python. A virtual environment is a self-contained environment that allows you to install Python packages without affecting the system installation.

To set up a virtual environment in Ubuntu 20.10, you can use the following commands:

sudo apt-get install python3-venv
python3 -m venv myenv # create a virtual environment
source myenv/bin/activate # activate the virtual environment

With the virtual environment activated, you can install packages using pip without affecting the system installation.

Conclusion

Ubuntu 20.10 comes with Python 3.8 pre-installed, making it easy to get started with Python development. With the new features and improvements in Python 3.8 and the ability to easily install packages using apt-get and pip, Ubuntu 20.10 is a great platform for Python developers.