Forcing python39 on M1

[Ken Cunningham]

> Having heard that python39 is the only one (so far) to compile natively on M1, I’m trying to force the python ports I use to python39

Hello Peter,

FYI, an arm64 version of python38 appears to be available:

http://packages.macports.org/python38/python38-3.8.8_0.darwin_20.arm64.tbz2

and is “green” on the ports review page:

https://ports.macports.org/port/python38/summary


The ports.macports.org page can be misleading at times, unfortunately, as it will show “green” if the port has been blocked from building even if it can’t be built, which is no doubt confusing to people at times and there is (I believe) a ticket about that somewhere.

The packages.macports.org site is pretty reliable, although to be 100% certain, you do need to actually install the port and examine it with “file” or “arch” or similar.

And the fact that the arm64 python38 exists doesn’t necessarily mean a universal python38 exists for x86_64/arm64 or can be built. It might or might not.

So there are some caveats to the presence of the python38 file there on packages, but it is there.

Best,

Ken