python setup in 2025

tl;dr

Install uv:	`curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh \| sh` (Linux/Mac)
Install Python:	`uv python install 3.13` (current stable, recommended)
Replaces:	pip, pyenv, poetry, virtualenv, venv, and pipx
Speed:	Faster than apt/dnf and supports rootless installation
Windows:	Use PowerShell install script instead

overview

as of august 2025, you should almost always use uv to install and manage python versions.

it supports rootless installation by default
it supports isolated version installations
it is extremely fast to install uv
uv will install python faster than apt or dnf

if a uv build doesn’t support what you need for some reason, you probably need to compile python from source (after checking with libraries, e.g., ssl or zlib, you are building against).

uv effectively replaces pip, pip-tools, pyenv, poetry, virtualenv, venv, and pipx

read the detailed guide on uv and uvx

python versions (august 2025)

current release status per python.org:

version	status	release date	end of life
3.13	stable	october 2024	october 2029
3.14	beta	october 2025	october 2030
3.12	security	october 2023	october 2028
3.11	security	october 2022	october 2027

recommended: python 3.13

installation

linux / mac

curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
uv python install 3.13

windows

# windows
powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"
uv python install 3.13