How to install mutiple python versions?

[samisalamiws]

I'm trying to install multiple python versions using the following commands:

ARG PYTHON_VERSION=3.6.15
RUN install-tool python

ARG PYTHON_VERSION=2.7.18
RUN install-tool python

ARG PYTHON_VERSION=3.7.12
RUN install-tool python

ARG PYTHON_VERSION=3.8.12
RUN install-tool python

eventually, I can see all these versions installed in the image under /usr/local/python. but my problem is that I don't have the shortcuts of triggering python3.7 and python3.6 and python2.7 . only python3.8 (the latest installed) is available

I tried exporting the bin directory to the path also by using RUN export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/python/3.6.15/bin but it keeps overriding it and I only get this path: /home/dir1/.local/bin:/usr/local/python/3.8.12/bin:/home/dir1/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin

any ideas on how can I make this happen?

[rarkins]

@viceice is this supported yet, or could it be supported?

@samisalamiws is it your intention that the last python you install takes over python while the previous ones still are reachable using python3.6, python3.7, etc?

[samisalamiws]

the last python does take over, but the other versions are not reachable by simply running python3.6. If we want to use python3.6 we will need to trigger it directly from the folder /usr/local/python/3.6.15/bin/python3.6

[samisalamiws]

currently I found some workaround by running:

RUN cp /usr/local/python/${PYTHON_VERSION}/bin/python3.6 /usr/local/bin/
RUN cp /usr/local/python/${PYTHON_VERSION}/bin/python3 /usr/local/bin/
RUN cp /usr/local/python/${PYTHON_VERSION}/bin/pip3.6 /usr/local/bin/

[viceice]

This will be solved by #223

[samisalamiws]

thanks

[samisalamiws]

@viceice any ETA on this?

[viceice]

PR merged and released 🥳

[samisalamiws]

@viceice great job, thank you