Python: Developing in Python: the local approach

This documentation is part of the Development platform guide. View the full guide here: Prepare your development platform for a smooth and productive experience.

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Setting up Python locally means installing the runtime, dependencies, and development tools on your own machine. This gives you full control, but you are responsible for updates, backups, and making sure your environment stays consistent.

Setting up your local Python environment

For a flexible and consistent setup, you can use asdf, a tool for managing multiple runtime versions. asdf supports not only Python, but also many other languages including Node.js, Ruby, and PHP. It makes it easy to switch between versions and keep your projects isolated.

Traditional Python workflows rely on virtual environments (such as python venv, virtualenv, or mkvirtualenv) to separate dependencies. With asdf, you can manage both Python versions and project environments more robustly, reducing friction and avoiding common version conflicts.

Installing asdf

You can follow the official asdf installation guide to set up asdf on your system.

After installing, verify that asdf is set up correctly by running:

asdf version

This should print the installed version, confirming that asdf is ready.

Installing Python using asdf

To add Python support and install the latest version, you can run:

asdf plugin add python https://github.com/danhper/asdf-python.git
asdf install python latest
asdf global python latest

Once complete, check your Python version:

python --version

This output confirms your Python installation is ready for development.