Upgrading python-scipy to 0.8.0 without Dependency Hell

In the world of Python programming, scipy is a fundamental library used for scientific and technical computing. However, upgrading scipy to a newer version, such as 0.8.0, can sometimes lead to a complex web of dependencies, often referred to as “Dependency Hell”. This article will guide you through the process of upgrading python-scipy to 0.8.0 without falling into this trap.

Understanding the Problem

Dependency Hell is a situation where different software packages have dependencies on specific versions of other software packages, creating a complex, interwoven web of dependencies that can be difficult to resolve. In the context of upgrading python-scipy, you might find that the newer version of scipy requires a different version of a dependency than the one currently installed on your system.

Preparing for the Upgrade

Before you start the upgrade process, it’s important to ensure that your system has the necessary prerequisites installed. For upgrading scipy, you will need the following:

• libatlas-base-dev: This package provides the base development files for ATLAS, which scipy relies on for some of its operations.
• gfortran: This is the GNU Fortran compiler, which scipy uses to compile its Fortran sources.
• python-pip: This is a package manager for Python, which we will use to install scipy.

You can install these dependencies using the following command:

sudo apt-get install libatlas-base-dev gfortran python-pip

Upgrading scipy using apt-get

Now that we have the necessary prerequisites installed, we can proceed with the upgrade. One of the simplest ways to upgrade scipy is by using the apt-get command:

sudo pip install --upgrade scipy

In this command, --upgrade is an option that tells pip to upgrade the specified package (in this case, scipy) to the latest version.

Installing newer debian packages

Another way to upgrade scipy is to install newer debian packages of numpy and scipy. This can be done by running the following commands:

sudo dpkg -i python-numpy_1.5.1-1ubuntu2_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i python-scipy_0.8.0+dfsg1-1ubuntu1_i386.deb

In these commands, dpkg -i is used to install a package, and the .deb files are the debian packages for numpy and scipy.

Using pip

Pip is a package manager for Python, and it can be used to install and upgrade packages. To upgrade scipy using pip, you can use the following command:

sudo pip install scipy

Using easy_install

Easy_install is another package manager for Python. It can be used to install packages in a similar way to pip. To install scipy using easy_install, you can use the following command:

sudo easy_install scipy

Verifying the Upgrade

After upgrading scipy, it’s important to verify that the upgrade was successful. This can be done by running the following command:

python -c 'import scipy; print(scipy.__version__)'

This command imports scipy and prints its version number. If the upgrade was successful, this should print ‘0.8.0’.

Conclusion

Upgrading python-scipy to 0.8.0 doesn’t have to lead to Dependency Hell. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can avoid dependency issues and successfully upgrade scipy. Remember to always verify the upgrade to ensure that it was successful. Happy coding!