Is it safe to reinstall Python 2.7.10 on El Capitan Mac OS X? I reinstalled my Python 2.7.10, and updated to Python 2.7.11 I reinstalled with command 'brew reinstall python' Thank you
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What exactly do you mean by `"safe"`? – Matt C Mar 29 '16 at 16:56
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Did something go wrong when you did this? – zwol Mar 29 '16 at 16:58
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@MatthewCliatt Probably exactly what the word, "safe", means. Which is "protected from or not exposed to danger or risk; not likely to be harmed or lost." – 8protons Mar 29 '16 at 17:10
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@zwol: I'd expect a lot to go wrong when someone replaces the system Python on OS X... – Martijn Pieters Mar 29 '16 at 18:02
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@MartijnPieters It isn't clear to me that that is what the OP did... – zwol Mar 29 '16 at 18:48
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@zwol: that I agree with. – Martijn Pieters Mar 29 '16 at 18:51
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No, you can't safely update the system-provided Python. Too many moving parts of the operating system and 3rd-party software relies on what the OS provides rather than what you want to use.
You can install Python via brew safely however, as it doesn't replace the system Python. Brew asks you to update your PATH variable, and in your terminal with an updated PATH you'll automatically use the brew-provided Python. This leaves the system Python in-place to be used by everything else.
Martijn Pieters
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