The Deadsnakes project provides a PPA (Personal Package Archive) that allows users to install unsupported or newer versions of Python on Ubuntu and other Debian-based systems. This is especially useful for developers who need access to versions of Python that aren’t available in the default repositories of their system.
It allows you to install various Python versions (like Python 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, and more) concurrently with the system default Python, without conflicts. These packages include core utilities such as python3.x, python3.x-venv, and python3.x-dev, making it easier to manage and switch between different Python versions for different projects.
To use Deadsnakes, you would add the PPA to your system and update your package list:
Add the PPA:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deadsnakes/ppa
sudo apt update
Install the desired version of Python:
sudo apt install python3.x
This will allow you to install, for example, Python 3.10 while keeping your system default Python (e.g., 3.8) intact.