VSCode for WSL: wrong python version of the interpreter

Question

I am trying to use VScode for Python for Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). On the bottom left corner, I see that the python version is 3.6 (which is what I want):

However, when I check the version:

print(sys.version)

I get 2.7.17. Why I can't use Python 3 and how can I switch the interpreter to Python 3.6.9?

How are you executing that code to check the version?

Brett Cannon
– Brett Cannon

2020-01-22 23:33:42 +00:00
Commented Jan 22, 2020 at 23:33 — Brett Cannon
– Brett Cannon, Commented Jan 22, 2020 at 23:33

Imre_G · Accepted Answer · 2020-01-22 09:53:03Z

2

There are a couple of ways. The most easy one is adding a shebang on top of your script like this:

#!/usr/bin/python3

Also, did you run the code using python mycode.py or python3 mycode.py. It makes a difference.

Another way is to follow this tutorial to install and use different versions of python. https://hackersandslackers.com/multiple-versions-python-ubuntu/

Another way is to use virtual environments. That way you can define your python version on project level. There are probably more ways.

edited Jan 22, 2020 at 9:53

answered Jan 21, 2020 at 16:59

Imre_G

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2 Comments

funnydman Over a year ago

This alias python=python3 is a very bad suggestion. I believe that there is still some software that depends on Python 2. Never do such aliases!

Imre_G Over a year ago

Thanks for the suggestion. You are probably right. Updated the answer.

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