Both Raspbian images have Python 2 preinstalled but Raspbian Lite does not have python 3 preinstalled. This guides the installation of Python and some of the packages that I regularly use. The methods here may be used on many Linux systems but the main audience is Raspberry Pi users.
Assumptions
This guide assumes an installed and working Debian based Linux operating system that manages packages using apt. Raspbian, the OS for Raspberry Pis, is such an operating system. To install Raspbian follow the RPi Initial Setup Guide. In order to install new packages, an Internet connection is required.
Basics
Raspbian Jessie comes with both Python 2 and Python 3 preinstalled. Raspbian Jessie Lite, however; comes with only Python 2 preinstalled.
Raspbian Lite:
-
Python3,
sudo apt-get install python3 -
Pip3,
sudo apt-get install python3-pip
If possible, install python packages using the apt system. This makes it a bit easier to maintain. Not all packages or their latest versions are available via apt. If you need a package not in apt, the next choice is pip.
Package naming in apt is usually of the form python-packagename or python3-packagename. To install a python packages, use the command:
-
Python 2,
sudo apt-get install python-packagename -
Python 3,
sudo apt-get install python3-packagename
Pip installs packages into Python 2 while pip3 installs packages into Python 3. To install a python package using pip:
-
Python 2,
sudo pip install packagename -
Python 3,
sudo pip3 install packagename
Some packages
Since I have moved all of my current development work to Python 3, those will be the examples used.
General and GPIO
-
sudo apt-get install python3-rpi.gpio -
sudo apt-get install python3-smbus -
sudo apt-get install python3-dev
GPS
-
GPS,
sudo pip3 install gps3 -
GPS chipset,
sudo apt-get install python3-microstacknode -
Needed by microstacknode,
sudo apt-get install python3-serial
Camera
-
sudo apt-get install python3-picamera
Audio
-
sudo apt-get install python3-pyaudio