Table of Content

portable python2/3 coexist on window

It is not big issue to install python2/3 on same Linux but some issue on window, they have same name. There is new launcher to switch different version but not support portable by natural.

Here are some tips to make both portable running smoothly on usb.

dev env

mobaxterm as cli shell, it is all in one lightweight linux like tool on window, not prefect but it is enough for daily python scripting work
ipython/jupyter notebook as web based edit/debug tool
Visual Studio Code as portable IDE

portable python2/3 win installation

download and install by click, then copy to usb E driver folder,

E:\portableapps\python\python27
E:\portableapps\python\python373

don’t need launcher and add to PATH option, then you can uninstall python27 and python373 from windows.

rename python exe

copy python.exe to usb E driver,

E:\portableapps\python\python27\python2.exe
E:\portableapps\python\python373\python3.exe

add python path in profile

you can add to .bashrc or portabledevops as below

export PORTABLEPATH=/path-to-portable-folder

# portable win python2
if [ -d $PORTABLEPATH/python/python27 ]; then
	PATH=$PORTABLEPATH/python/python27:$PORTABLEPATH/python/python27/Scripts:$PATH
	alias pip2="$PORTABLEPATH/python/python27/python2 -m pip"
fi

# portable win python3
if [ -d $PORTABLEPATH/python/python373 ]; then
	PATH=$PORTABLEPATH/python/python373:$PORTABLEPATH/python/python373/Scripts:$PATH
	alias pip3="$PORTABLEPATH/python/python373/python3 -m pip"
fi

native pip2/3 not working due to hard code python path in launch exe, so alias is easy option.

runtime env for python3

E:/PORTAB~1/python/python373/python3.exe: error while loading shared libraries: ?: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

double click python.exe will ask "api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll"

remedy:
1) python3 need at least visual c++ runtime 2015, download from https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/download/details.aspx?id=48145

2) update for Universal CRT
Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 creates a dependency on the Universal CRT when applications are built by using the Windows 10 Software Development Kit (SDK). You can install this update on earlier Windows operating systems to enable these applications to run correctly.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2999226/update-for-universal-c-runtime-in-windows

install jupyter notebook

jupyter notebook is from ipython notebook and becomes most powerful web based edit/debug tool.

upgrade pip to latest version

pip2 install --upgrade pip
pip3 install --upgrade pip

install jupyter

pip2 install jupyter
pip3 install jupyter

have to notice all installed script (*.exe) are hard coded with absolute path,

strings jupyter.exe|grep python
#!c:\portab~1\python\python373\python3.exe

this is way to run them safely in any place,

python3 jupyter.exe
or
python3 -m jupyter

also notice there are two set of jupyter script after install it for python2 and python3, either one is working, you can check latest oen in PATH is running one, in below case it is python3 version,

which -a jupyter
/cygdrive/E/PORTAB~1/python/python373/Scripts/jupyter
/cygdrive/E/PORTAB~1/python/python27/Scripts/jupyter

install kernelspec in mobaxterm,

generate/install kernel,

python2 -m ipykernel install --user
Installed kernelspec python2 in C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\jupyter\kernels\python2

python3 -m ipykernel install --user
Installed kernelspec python3 in C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\jupyter\kernels\python3

check kernelspec

cd /drives/e/portableapps/python/python27/Scripts/
python2 jupyter-kernelspec.exe list
Available kernels:
python2 C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\jupyter\kernels\python2
python3 C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\jupyter\kernels\python3

cd /drives/e/portableapps/python/python373/Scripts/
python3 jupyter-kernelspec.exe list
Available kernels:
python2 C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\jupyter\kernels\python2
python3 C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\jupyter\kernels\python3

from any jupyter notebook you will see kernel for python2 and python3 available now.

note: when usb moved, the drive changed then only need to update kernelspec once,

python2 -m ipykernel install --user
python3 -m ipykernel install --user

launch jupyter netbook

"jupyter notebook" not working well due to hard coded python full path inside jupyter.exe, so here is easy remedy,

cd /drives/e/portableapps/python/python373/Scripts/
python3 jupyter-notebook.exe
[I 14:09:06.457 NotebookApp] Serving notebooks from local directory: D:\portableapps\python\python373\Scripts
[I 14:09:06.457 NotebookApp] The Jupyter Notebook is running at:
[I 14:09:06.457 NotebookApp] http://localhost:8888/?token=7087d05f8a9be795d1ac6b6d2674f835d8d0b832276e40c7

the jupyter start folder by default is the location you launch jupyter notebook, so above Scripts folder may not your prefer one, here is another way to launch jupyter notebook in anyplace,

python3 -m IPython notebook

portable python2/3 working with portable mobaxterm

interactive python hanging in mobaxterm due to known terminal type issue, easy remedy is to use option -i to enter interactive mode,

python2 -i
python3 -i

portable vsc

download and unzip the vsc zip file, place to

E:\portableapps\vsc

create data with same folder as code.exe

E:\portableapps\vsc\data

create own tmp under data,

E:\portableapps\vsc\data\tmp

then all config/extensions will be placed under data/, vsc becomes to portable.

python config in vsc

1) first of all, need to install python extension in vsc
2) in user setting.json, add customized python full path,

{
	"python.pythonPath": "E:\\portableapps\\python\\python373\\python.exe",
}

conclusion

Here you go with portable python on usb:

bash shell cli (mobaxterm)
web based edit/debug tool (jupyter notebook)
IDE GUI (Visual Studio Code)