Being a software engineer, you often come across many instances where you would require to have Python installed on your Mac.
However, the issue is most modern macOS versions come with rather with Python 2.7.x installed and not the newer, modern version like Python 3.6.5 or Python 3.7.2 (which is the most up-to-date version right now).
How do I install the python imaging library (PIL) on Ubuntu? I tried doing sudo apt-get install python-imaging but now when i run python selftest.py (a script I got from somewhere on the htt. Apr 08, 2010 Installing MatplotLib and BaseMaps on Mac OSX. Matplotlib and BaseMaps are python libraries used to display and manipulate data. MatplotLib is the basic package which allows the programmer to create graphs and plots in 2D and 3D (includining animation).
This short guide is written to show you how to properly install Python 3 on a Mac OS Xcomputer.
Before you jump into the guide, do take note that there are multiple ways to install Python 3 on a Mac but with this guide, I’ll show you the two easiest ways to do this, step-by-step.
Personally, the way I did it was using a package manager like HomeBrew (it’s okay if you don’t understand what it is). Again, I’ll show you how to do this method down below.
Wait, how do I check if Python 3 is already installed on my Mac?
Simple. Open up your Terminal and type the following line python --version and then hit your Enter key:
You should see the python version that is currently installed on your Mac.
How to Install Python 3 on macOS: 2 Ways
1. The Simplest Way.
Perhaps the simplest way to install Python 3 on macOS.
This is for you especially if you’re a newbie (though I still strongly recommend you try the HomeBrew method below) or if you don’t want to deal with copy-pasting code into your Terminal and downloading other software.
Here’s how to install Python 3 on your macOS:
- Jump into Python.org downloads page and simply just download the latest Python version.
- Next, run the Python Installer to install Python 3 onto your Mac.
Note
The Python installation may require about 100MB of disk space to install. Once you’ve installed Python 3 you can have it alongside Python 2 without having to delete the latter from your Mac.
- Great! Now once Python 3 is installed, you’ll be able to find it within the Applications directory of your Mac. You’ll also find here a simple IDE called “IDLE.app” which gives you a basic Python IDE.
Help! Where do I find the Applications directory?
If you can’t find the Applications directory, simply go to Finder by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock (it’s usually the first icon from the left side of the Dock). From there simply, go to the Go menu and select Applications.
Done. If you got yourself lost through the process, you can comment down below.
Next up, I’ll show you how you can install Python 3 using HomeBrew onto your macOS. This is my preferred way and it is just as simple as the method before but it will make your life a whole lot simpler, in the long run, using Python.
2. Install Python 3 on Mac using HomeBrew.
This method is dead-ass simple and a little fun. 🙂
First of all, you’ll need to have this thing called HomeBrew installed on your Mac. Homebrew is basically a “package manager”. A package manager is an application that helps you install the stuff you need that Apple (or even your Linux System) hadn’t installed in the first place for you.
It’s simple, fast and safe.
Second, you will need to have installed XCode onto your Mac. If you’re thinking of learning how to program or creating iOS apps on your Mac, then it’s good to have XCode installed. We will be using XCode to install HomeBrew application.
Note
If you have already installed XCode onto your Mac you can skip step 1 and jump straight to step 3.
Here are the steps to install XCode, HomeBrew as well as install Python 3 using HomeBrew onto your Mac:
- Jump into your Terminal app on your Mac and run the copy/paste the following command into the Terminal to install XCode onto your Mac:
- Simply click through all the confirmation crap that XCode shows. It may take a little while to install XCode since it is a large program.
- Great! Now that you have XCode installed, you can install HomeBrew! To install HomeBrew, simply copy/paste the following command into your Terminal:
Note
You can confirm the HomeBrew installed correctly by running the command: below:
- You’ve installed HomeBrew! Now let’s install the Python 3, the reason why you’re here. To install the latest version of Python, just copy/paste the following command into your Terminal:
Note
You can confirm which version of Python was installed all by running the command below (the exact same command you tried earlier in this guide). It should show up as follows:
- Finally, let’s run our new Python 3. Simply enter
python3.
Voila! You have now installed Python 3 successfully if you see something similar in your Terminal:
Bonus
•If you want to exit, type exit() and then hit your Return button on your keyboard. You can also hit both Control and D keys at the same time instead of the Return key.
•Remember I mentioned you can run both your new Python 3 alongside your old Python 2? Yup. Simply type python into the Terminal to run with Python 2.
Share this guide with someone who’s looking to install Python 3 on macOS.
A basic reference guide to installing pillow on your local machine as well as a worst-case scenario fallback.
Virtual Environment
Make sure you are working in a virtual environment to ensure software package continuity.
If you are not working in one, install and make one with:
####Activate the virtual environment.On Mac/Linux:
On Windows:
Install Python Image Library (Pillow)
This provides image validation (as well as many other image-related python activities) for Django's ImageField()
If installation fails...
You might see something like:
That means pillow was not installed correctly. Below are a few suggestions for troubleshooting (aka fixing) this issue.
Mac Users Troubleshooting guide
Create developer accountFree at time of writing
Download Command Line Tools for Xcode. Search 'command line tools' here.Download the latest for your operating system (Mavericks or Yosemite)
After XCode and command line tools are installed, open terminal and run:
If installation still fails, continue to next section.
Try HomeBrew
Check Homebrew is installed
If Homebrew is not installed, visit http://brew.sh to install.
In Terminal
If homebrew installation fails, try:
Lastly try:
Linux Users Troubleshooting guide
Linux users if you get any error something like this
Install the following packages in terminal
Python Library Install Windows
Windows Users Troubleshooting guide
if you get error some thing like this
Check whether you have installed Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 or later
Mac Install Python Image Library Terminal 1
Also you can install pillow using easy_install
Worst-Case Fallback: If all else Fails
Use FileField() instead of ImageField() as your model field. Example:
Instead of
The main advantage of 'ImageField' is that checks if the file uploaded is, in fact, an actual image while 'FileField' does not. Read about 'ImageField' in the Django documentation here.
Python Image Library Pil
Cheers!