Getting Python 2.7 Up and Running on Ubuntu 20.04

Totally get your struggle with diving back into Python 2.7! Here’s a little guide to help you navigate through your setup.

1. Install Python 2.7

First up, make sure you have Python 2.7 installed. Open your terminal and run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install python2

2. Install Virtualenv

You’re right about virtualenv; it’s still a great way to manage your virtual environments! You might need to install it first:

sudo apt install python-pip
pip install virtualenv

3. Create a Virtual Environment

Now, let’s create a virtual environment for your projects. Navigate to your project directory (or wherever you want to keep it) and run:

virtualenv -p /usr/bin/python2.7 myenv

Replace myenv with whatever you want to name your environment.

4. Activate the Virtual Environment

To start using your virtual environment, you’ll need to activate it. Run:

source myenv/bin/activate

You’ll know it’s activated when you see the environment name in your terminal prompt.

5. Package Compatibility

Regarding compatibility, yes, older libraries can be a pain with Python 2.7, but using a virtual environment helps isolate your setup, so you should be good to go. If you run into any issues, check the library’s documentation or look for alternatives that support Python 2.7.

6. Keeping Projects Organized

For keeping things tidy, consider having a main directory for all your projects and individual folders for each virtual environment. That way, you won’t mix things up. A simple structure could look like this:

~/my_python_projects/
└── project1/
    ├── myenv/
    └── your_code.py

Once you’re done working on a project, you can deactivate the virtual environment by running:

deactivate

Final Tips

Don’t hesitate to look up any errors you encounter—they usually have solutions online. And just take it step by step; you’ll be back to enjoying coding before you know it!

Good luck with your projects!