How to Install Python 2.7, IPython, Pyenv, Jupyter, and PyCharm on CentOS

Compile and install Python 2.7 and IPython

1. Download required packages: ipython-1.2.1.tar.gz, Python-2.7.6.tar.xz from the official site.

ipython-1.2.1.tar.gz
Python-2.7.6.tar.xz
# Please download the specified packages from the official website.

2. Install readline-devel via yum.

yum -y install readline-devel

If this package is not installed, the Python interactive shell may not respond to the Backspace key.

3. Install gcc. yum -y install gcc 4. Extract and install Python 2.7.

tar xf Python-2.7.6.tar.xz
cd Python-2.7.6
./configure --prefix=/usr/local/python27
make && make install

5. Install IPython.

IPython enhances the Python command line with auto‑completion, auto‑indentation and many built‑in functions.

tar xf ipython-1.2.1.tar.gz
cd ipython-1.2.1
/usr/local/python27/bin/python2.7 setup.py build
/usr/local/python27/bin/python2.7 setup.py install

6. Create symbolic links.

ln -sv /usr/local/python27/bin/python2.7 /usr/bin/python27
ln -sv /usr/local/python27/bin/ipython /usr/bin/

Deploy Python with pyenv

What pyenv does

Installs Python interpreters

Manages multiple Python versions

Through plugins, manages virtual environments

Steps

1. Install git. yum -y install git 2. Define PYENV_ROOT. export PYENV_ROOT=/opt/pyenv 3. Install pyenv via the official installer.

# curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/yyuu/pyenv-installer/master/bin/pyenv-installer | bash

4. Configure environment variables.

vim /etc/profile.d/pyenv.sh
export PATH="/opt/pyenv/bin:$PATH"
eval "$(pyenv init -)"
eval "$(pyenv virtualenv-init -)"
sh /etc/profile.d/pyenv.sh

5. Verify pyenv installation.

pyenv version
# Output "system" indicates pyenv works.

Install Python 3.5.2 with pyenv

1. Install required build dependencies.

yum -y install gdbm-devel openssl-devel sqlite-devel readline-devel zlib-devel bzip2-devel patch

2. Install Python 3.5.2.

pyenv install 3.5.2

See pyenv help for detailed usage.

Additional notes

Cannot install the latest Python

Use pyenv install --list to view available versions and pyenv update to upgrade pyenv.

pyenv install --list
pyenv update

Slow installation

Cache the source tarball in ~/.pyenv/cache to speed up builds.

mv Python-3.5.2.tar.xz ~/.pyenv/cache/Python-3.5.2.tar.gz

Basic pyenv usage

pyenv can manage multiple Python versions on a single server.

Common commands

pyenv install PYTHON_VERSION – install a specific version.

pyenv local PYENV_VERSION – set the version for the current directory.

pyenv versions – list installed versions.

pyenv version – show the version used in the current directory.

pyenv versions
pyenv version

Set a directory to use Python 2.7.6:

cd /root/python2
pyenv local 2.7.6
pyenv version

Set a directory to use Python 3.5.2:

cd /root/python3
pyenv local 3.5.2
pyenv version

Now different directories can use different Python versions.

Install Jupyter Notebook

Jupyter provides a web‑based interactive Python environment similar to IPython.

1. Configure pip to use a mirror.

vim ~/.pip/pip.conf
[global]
index-url = http://mirrors.aliyun.com/pypi/simple/
trusted-host = mirrors.aliyun.com

2. Install Jupyter via pip. pip install jupyter 3. Launch Jupyter. jupyter notebook --ip=0.0.0.0 --no-browser 4. Open a browser at http://<server_ip>:8888/tree to access the notebook.

Use PyCharm on Windows to connect to a Linux Python environment

Because Windows often has compatibility issues, it is recommended to develop on Linux and use PyCharm’s remote interpreter.

1. Download and install PyCharm Professional.

# Download from http://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/download/#section=windows

2. Add a remote interpreter via Settings → Project Interpreter → Add Remote → SSH.

3. Configure deployment (SFTP) to sync local project files to the Linux server.

4. Enable automatic upload (Tools → Deployment → Automatic Upload).

After saving a file, it is uploaded to the remote directory and can be executed directly.