Custom Configuration – Python Modules and Builds

Students do not have root permission on Linux Lab machines. So if students need to install additional software, they need to do it under their own home directories (which has the advantage of “install once, run on any Lab node”).

The pip command (or pip3 for some 3.x version of python) can be installed under your home directory via:

$ pip3 install --user pandas
...

virtualenv

Local python module installs are possible using virtualenv on the Linux Lab systems. In a terminal, run the following shell commands:

$ cd
$ mkdir python-stuff
$ cd python-stuff
$ virtualenv-3 .
...
$ ./bin/pip3 install pandas
...

the last of which may take some time to compile. See the pip docs for more information on searching for and installing packages.

If you need a specific version of python build and install it under your home directory:

$ wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.6.5/Python-3.6.5.tgz
$ wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.6.5/Python-3.6.5.tgz.asc
$ gpg --keyserver hkp://keys.gnupg.net --recv-keys AA65421D
$ gpg --verify Python-3.6.5.tgz.asc
gpg: Signature made Wed 28 Mar 2018 03:28:12 AM PDT using RSA key ID AA65421D
gpg: Good signature from "Ned Deily (Python release signing key) <nad@python.org>"
...
$ tar xzf Python-3.6.5.tgz
$ cd Python-3.6.5
$ unset CFLAGS
$ ./configure --prefix=$HOME/python-3.6.5 && make && make install</nad@python.org>

Scripts can now use the /homes/urlogin/python-3.6.5/bin/python3 path to reference that custom install.