What’s wrong with the pre-built Python Mac packages?

[sscherfke]

You suggest to install Python on Mac OS X via Homebrew. What’s wrong with the binary installers from python.org? Imho, they are easier to install and I didn’t experience any problems with them, yet.

[JensRantil]

One reason is to be able to have multiple Python versions installed on the same system: http://youshoulddoityourself.blogspot.se/2010/11/test.html This is great for regression testing and making sure your Python applications work for lots of different Python versions.

[sscherfke]

The binary packages from python.org can also be installed in parallel. I have both, Python 2.7 and 3.2 (bin installers from python.org) running in addition to the Python that comes with OS X and have no problems. Compiling SciPy and NumPy is also no problem, since all dependencies (except for gcc and fortran) are already there.