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Apple will stop shipping scripting languages like Python with macOS starting with Catalina. When I eventually update to macOS Catalina, will the Python (2.7.X), which currently ships with macOS get removed from my system? Or is it only if I do a fresh install to Catalina that I won't get the Python installation anymore?

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  • You should stop using that Python by 1/1/2020 anyway as it will stop being maintained
    – mmmmmm
    Commented Jun 7, 2019 at 19:23
  • @Mark I hope many of the applications I'm using will stop relying on that by then.
    – ruohola
    Commented Jul 10, 2019 at 11:02
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    "stop shipping scripting languages like Python" what the fuck, WHY?
    – Alexander
    Commented Aug 5, 2019 at 15:29
  • @Alexander reddit.com/r/apple/comments/bwulrh/…
    – ruohola
    Commented Aug 5, 2019 at 15:56
  • The reddit link (and the document linked there) does not support the claim that Apple will remove this with Catalina.
    – nohillside ♦
    Commented Aug 5, 2019 at 16:01

2 Answers 2

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From Xcode 11 Beta Release Notes:

Scripting language runtimes such as Python, Ruby, and Perl are included in macOS for compatibility with legacy software. In future versions of macOS, scripting language runtimes won’t be available by default, and may require you to install an additional package. If your software depends on scripting languages, it’s recommended that you bundle the runtime within the app. (49764202)

So in Catalina these runtimes will still be available.

Also, from the same document

Use of Python 2.7 isn’t recommended. This version is included in macOS for compatibility with legacy software. Future versions of macOS won’t include Python 2.7. Instead, it’s recommended that you run python3 in Terminal. (51097165)

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  • Ok, so they will still ship with Catalina, even on fresh install? Any word on if they will ever get removed when updating to a newer OS?
    – ruohola
    Commented Jun 7, 2019 at 14:51
  • It doesn't say "not included", only only is recommends to take action for future OS versions. So in Catalina they are still included (would be rather challenging otherwise).
    – nohillside ♦
    Commented Jun 7, 2019 at 14:57
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    Anyway, the usual recommendation of installing early betas on a separate partition/drive apply, so there is no risk in just trying :-)
    – nohillside ♦
    Commented Jun 7, 2019 at 14:58
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I installed MacOS Catalina Beta and it was packaged with scripting languages like python (2.7) and ruby. Python3 was not available.

So probably they might remove it in the next major release (10.16) or they might remove it in the stable version of 10.15. In the former case, everything would function as expected, I believe.

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  • Okey! Python3 has never shipped with macOS, so that's a non issue.
    – ruohola
    Commented Jul 10, 2019 at 6:37
  • @ruohola Are you sure about that? I'm on Catalina now, and I have a /usr/bin/python3 that claims to be v3.7.3; this is in addition to a (newer) Homebrew install at /usr/bin/local/python3. Edit: I'm led to believe python3 came with an XCode installation.
    – Michael come lately
    Commented Dec 16, 2019 at 16:10
  • Hmm, I just checked myself and you are correct! I also have Python 3.7.3 as /usr/bin/python3.
    – ruohola
    Commented Dec 16, 2019 at 16:13
  • @Michael yeah it must be from XCode command line tools.
    – pranav
    Commented Jan 13, 2020 at 6:25
  • I want to remove python 2 from my Mac. If it is possible do guide me how to make it happen
    – Irurik Soft Labs
    Commented May 5, 2020 at 3:14

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