Python Version Support on Rocky Linux
Introduction
Rocky Linux ships a default system Python interpreter with each major release. Although the upstream Python project may end support for a given version before the Rocky Linux release reaches end of life, CIQ continues to support the system Python for the full lifecycle of that Rocky Linux release.
This article covers which Python version ships as the default on each major Rocky Linux release, how to find and install alternate Python versions from AppStream, and what the support boundaries are.
Problem
The default system Python on Rocky Linux may show as end-of-life on the upstream Python release schedule. This can cause confusion about whether the interpreter is still supported and whether security fixes are still being applied. Additionally, some applications or development workflows may require a newer Python version than the system default.
Resolution
Default system Python by release
Each major Rocky Linux version ships a specific Python interpreter as the system default:
- Rocky Linux 8: Python 3.6
- Rocky Linux 9: Python 3.9
- Rocky Linux 10: Python 3.12
CIQ supports these versions for the full lifecycle of their respective Rocky Linux release, regardless of the upstream Python project's own end-of-life dates. Security fixes continue to be applied to the system Python as part of the distribution's maintenance cycle.
Rocky Linux 8: finding and installing alternate versions
Rocky Linux 8 uses AppStream module streams for alternate Python versions. To see what's available:
dnf module list python*
The available module streams are Python 3.6 (default), 3.8, and 3.9. To enable and install an alternate stream:
dnf module enable python39
dnf install python39
The alternate interpreter is available as python3.9 on the command line. The system python3 continues to point to the default 3.6 version.
Rocky Linux 9 and 10: finding and installing alternate versions
Rocky Linux 9 and 10 ship additional Python interpreters as non-modular AppStream packages. These can be installed alongside the system Python without replacing it.
To see which alternate versions are available:
dnf list available 'python3.*-libs' | grep -oP 'python3\.\d+' | sort -uV
As of Rocky Linux 9.8, the available alternate streams are Python 3.11, 3.12, and 3.14. Rocky Linux 10 includes Python 3.14 as an alternate stream.
Install the alternate interpreter using dnf. For example, to install Python 3.12 on Rocky Linux 9:
dnf install python3.12
The alternate interpreter is available as python3.12 on the command line. The system python3 command continues to point to the default version.
Using pip with an alternate version
To use pip with any alternate Python interpreter, invoke it through the versioned command:
python3.12 -m pip install <package>
Support boundaries
CIQ support for Python on Rocky Linux covers the interpreters shipped in BaseOS and AppStream. A few things to keep in mind:
- The system Python is supported for the full Rocky Linux lifecycle
- Alternate AppStream streams have shorter individual lifecycles than the system Python
- Support doesn't extend to third-party packages installed from PyPI
- Python interpreters from EPEL or other third-party repositories aren't covered by CIQ support