Installing Python 3.8.11 from TGZ File

[michaelnicol]

I am attempting to install Python 3.8.11 for Windows from a TGZ file since no installer is available on the Python website.

Here is the files it gives me instead: https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-3811/

I downloaded the TGZ file, extracted the README, and it gave me the following instructions that are attached.

On Unix, Linux, BSD, macOS, and Cygwin::

./configure
make
make test
sudo make install

But this does not work for Windows.

[snippsat]

Why are you trying to install 3.8.11?

Python 3.8 isn't receiving regular bugfixes anymore, and binary installers are no longer provided for it.
Python 3.8.10 was the last full bugfix release of Python 3.8 with binary installers.

Python 3.8.10 has installer,so use that.
Building from source is not so easy on Windows,so should try to avoid that.
Now should use Python 3.10.12 or Python 3.11.4.

[DeaD_EyE]

If you want to compile Python on Windows for Windows, you need all build-dependencies.
I guess the easiest way is the use of Visual Studio Community Edition to compile Python, but you can do it also with WSL.

https://devguide.python.org/getting-star...g/#windows

If you look for the current state, which versions how long are supported, 3.8 ends 2024-10.
https://devguide.python.org/versions/

It's better to upgrade early.
If you're going to port your program to a newer version, you can look here, what has been changed:
https://docs.python.org/3.9/whatsnew/3.9...python-3-9
https://docs.python.org/3.10/whatsnew/3....ython-3-10
https://docs.python.org/3.11/whatsnew/3....ython-3-11
https://docs.python.org/3.12/whatsnew/3....ython-3-12