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[3.11] Update "Using Python on a Mac" (GH-115024) (#115388)
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Update "Using Python on a Mac" (GH-115024)
(cherry picked from commit 0a6e1a4)

Co-authored-by: Hugo van Kemenade <1324225+hugovk@users.noreply.github.com>
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miss-islington and hugovk committed Feb 13, 2024
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4 changes: 4 additions & 0 deletions Doc/conf.py
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Expand Up @@ -53,6 +53,10 @@
import patchlevel
version, release = patchlevel.get_version_info()

rst_epilog = f"""
.. |python_version_literal| replace:: ``Python {version}``
"""

# There are two options for replacing |today|: either, you set today to some
# non-false value, then it is used:
today = ''
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105 changes: 59 additions & 46 deletions Doc/using/mac.rst
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Expand Up @@ -10,41 +10,46 @@ Using Python on a Mac

Python on a Mac running macOS is in principle very similar to Python on
any other Unix platform, but there are a number of additional features such as
the IDE and the Package Manager that are worth pointing out.
the integrated development environment (IDE) and the Package Manager that are
worth pointing out.


.. _getting-osx:
.. _getting-and-installing-macpython:

Getting and Installing MacPython
================================
Getting and Installing Python
=============================

macOS used to come with Python 2.7 pre-installed between versions
10.8 and `12.3 <https://developer.apple.com/documentation/macos-release-notes/macos-12_3-release-notes#Python>`_.
You are invited to install the most recent version of Python 3 from the Python
website (https://www.python.org). A current "universal binary" build of Python,
which runs natively on the Mac's new Intel and legacy PPC CPU's, is available
there.
You are invited to install the most recent version of Python 3 from the `Python
website <https://www.python.org/downloads/macos/>`__.
A current "universal2 binary" build of Python, which runs natively on the Mac's
new Apple Silicon and legacy Intel processors, is available there.

What you get after installing is a number of things:

* A :file:`Python 3.12` folder in your :file:`Applications` folder. In here
* A |python_version_literal| folder in your :file:`Applications` folder. In here
you find IDLE, the development environment that is a standard part of official
Python distributions; and PythonLauncher, which handles double-clicking Python
Python distributions; and :program:`Python Launcher`, which handles double-clicking Python
scripts from the Finder.

* A framework :file:`/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework`, which includes the
Python executable and libraries. The installer adds this location to your shell
path. To uninstall MacPython, you can simply remove these three things. A
symlink to the Python executable is placed in /usr/local/bin/.

The Apple-provided build of Python is installed in
:file:`/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework` and :file:`/usr/bin/python`,
respectively. You should never modify or delete these, as they are
Apple-controlled and are used by Apple- or third-party software. Remember that
if you choose to install a newer Python version from python.org, you will have
two different but functional Python installations on your computer, so it will
be important that your paths and usages are consistent with what you want to do.

IDLE includes a help menu that allows you to access Python documentation. If you
path. To uninstall Python, you can remove these three things. A
symlink to the Python executable is placed in :file:`/usr/local/bin/`.

.. note::

On macOS 10.8-12.3, the Apple-provided build of Python is installed in
:file:`/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework` and :file:`/usr/bin/python`,
respectively. You should never modify or delete these, as they are
Apple-controlled and are used by Apple- or third-party software. Remember that
if you choose to install a newer Python version from python.org, you will have
two different but functional Python installations on your computer, so it will
be important that your paths and usages are consistent with what you want to do.

IDLE includes a Help menu that allows you to access Python documentation. If you
are completely new to Python you should start reading the tutorial introduction
in that document.

Expand All @@ -56,29 +61,29 @@ How to run a Python script
--------------------------

Your best way to get started with Python on macOS is through the IDLE
integrated development environment, see section :ref:`ide` and use the Help menu
integrated development environment; see section :ref:`ide` and use the Help menu
when the IDE is running.

If you want to run Python scripts from the Terminal window command line or from
the Finder you first need an editor to create your script. macOS comes with a
number of standard Unix command line editors, :program:`vim` and
:program:`emacs` among them. If you want a more Mac-like editor,
:program:`BBEdit` or :program:`TextWrangler` from Bare Bones Software (see
http://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/index.html) are good choices, as is
:program:`TextMate` (see https://macromates.com/). Other editors include
:program:`Gvim` (https://macvim.org/macvim/) and :program:`Aquamacs`
(http://aquamacs.org/).
number of standard Unix command line editors, :program:`vim`
:program:`nano` among them. If you want a more Mac-like editor,
:program:`BBEdit` from Bare Bones Software (see
https://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/index.html) are good choices, as is
:program:`TextMate` (see https://macromates.com). Other editors include
:program:`MacVim` (https://macvim.org) and :program:`Aquamacs`
(https://aquamacs.org).

To run your script from the Terminal window you must make sure that
:file:`/usr/local/bin` is in your shell search path.

To run your script from the Finder you have two options:

* Drag it to :program:`PythonLauncher`
* Drag it to :program:`Python Launcher`.

* Select :program:`PythonLauncher` as the default application to open your
script (or any .py script) through the finder Info window and double-click it.
:program:`PythonLauncher` has various preferences to control how your script is
* Select :program:`Python Launcher` as the default application to open your
script (or any ``.py`` script) through the finder Info window and double-click it.
:program:`Python Launcher` has various preferences to control how your script is
launched. Option-dragging allows you to change these for one invocation, or use
its Preferences menu to change things globally.

Expand All @@ -103,10 +108,11 @@ Python on macOS honors all standard Unix environment variables such as
:envvar:`PYTHONPATH`, but setting these variables for programs started from the
Finder is non-standard as the Finder does not read your :file:`.profile` or
:file:`.cshrc` at startup. You need to create a file
:file:`~/.MacOSX/environment.plist`. See Apple's Technical Document QA1067 for
details.
:file:`~/.MacOSX/environment.plist`. See Apple's
`Technical Q&A QA1067 <https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/qa/qa1067/_index.html>`__
for details.

For more information on installation Python packages in MacPython, see section
For more information on installation Python packages, see section
:ref:`mac-package-manager`.


Expand All @@ -115,9 +121,9 @@ For more information on installation Python packages in MacPython, see section
The IDE
=======

MacPython ships with the standard IDLE development environment. A good
Python ships with the standard IDLE development environment. A good
introduction to using IDLE can be found at
http://www.hashcollision.org/hkn/python/idle_intro/index.html.
https://www.hashcollision.org/hkn/python/idle_intro/index.html.


.. _mac-package-manager:
Expand All @@ -130,8 +136,10 @@ This section has moved to the `Python Packaging User Guide`_.
.. _Python Packaging User Guide: https://packaging.python.org/en/latest/tutorials/installing-packages/


GUI Programming on the Mac
==========================
.. _gui-programming-on-the-mac:

GUI Programming
===============

There are several options for building GUI applications on the Mac with Python.

Expand All @@ -151,20 +159,25 @@ macOS. Packages and documentation are available from https://www.wxpython.org.
macOS. More information can be found at
https://riverbankcomputing.com/software/pyqt/intro.

*PySide* is another cross-platform Qt-based toolkit. More information at
https://www.qt.io/qt-for-python.


Distributing Python Applications on the Mac
===========================================
.. _distributing-python-applications-on-the-mac:

Distributing Python Applications
================================

The standard tool for deploying standalone Python applications on the Mac is
:program:`py2app`. More information on installing and using py2app can be found
at https://pypi.org/project/py2app/.
:program:`py2app`. More information on installing and using :program:`py2app`
can be found at https://pypi.org/project/py2app/.


Other Resources
===============

The MacPython mailing list is an excellent support resource for Python users and
developers on the Mac:
The Pythonmac-SIG mailing list is an excellent support resource for Python users
and developers on the Mac:

https://www.python.org/community/sigs/current/pythonmac-sig/

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