Sandbox99 Chronicles

🧩 Introduction

While Kali Linux often ships with the latest version of Python pre-installed, certain tools and projects may require compatibility with older versions. In this quick guide, we’ll walk through the process of installing Python 3.10.12 alongside the system’s existing Python (e.g., Python 3.13.5), without causing conflicts. By building Python from source and installing it into a custom directory, you maintain full control over version usage—ideal for virtual environments, scripting needs, or legacy tool support.

✅ Step-by-Step Guide to Install Python 3.10.12 on Kali Linux

1. Install Build Dependencies

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y build-essential libssl-dev zlib1g-dev \
  libncurses5-dev libncursesw5-dev libreadline-dev libsqlite3-dev \
  libgdbm-dev libdb5.3-dev libbz2-dev libexpat1-dev liblzma-dev \
  tk-dev uuid-dev libffi-dev wget

2. Download Python 3.10.12 Source

cd /usr/src
sudo wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.10.12/Python-3.10.12.tgz
sudo tar xvf Python-3.10.12.tgz
cd Python-3.10.12

3. Compile Python

sudo ./configure --enable-optimizations --prefix=/opt/python-3.10
sudo make -j$(nproc)
sudo make altinstall

Note: make altinstall prevents overwriting /usr/bin/python.

4. Verify Installation

/opt/python-3.10/bin/python3.10 --version

5. (Optional) Create a Symlink

sudo ln -s /opt/python-3.10/bin/python3.10 /usr/local/bin/python3.10

6. (Optional) Create Virtual Environments with Python 3.10

sudo apt install python3-venv     # Install Python3 virtual environment
/opt/python-3.10/bin/python3.10 -m venv ~/venvs/py310
source ~/venvs/py310/bin/activate # Activate Virtual Environment
deactivate                        # Exit Virtual Environment

🏁 Final Thoughts

Installing Python 3.10.12 alongside newer versions on Kali Linux is both safe and practical when done with care. This method ensures your system remains stable while giving you the flexibility to run older Python-based applications or create isolated environments. Whether you’re testing legacy code, using a specific library version, or learning Python version management, having multiple Python versions at your disposal can significantly improve your development workflow.