GAE, Python 2.5, Python 2.6 Side-by-side on windows

Question

Hi

On my development system, I have python 2.6, python 1.1 and GAE.

• I have three projects running on python 2.6 and django 1.1.
• And 1 project using GAE, Python 2.6 and django 1.1.

I have heard that, my set-up for running GAE using python 2.6 may create some head scratching problems while deploying it on the production server, because GAE supports only python 2.5. And using 2.6 is not recommended.

Can I develop GAE application using python 2.6? If not what should be the solution, I am using Window vista as my development system.

Please note : I dont want to disturb my other projects in development, which uses python 2.6 and dajango 1.1.

Answer 1

Use virtualenv to isolate your development environments, so you can have one running 2.5 and the others running 2.6.

Edited to add: once 2.5 is installed, you can initialize your virtualenv to use it with the -p option:

virtualenv -p /path/to/python2.5/python.exe destination_dir

Answer 2

Unless you are using python 2.6 specific syntax/code your application is safe to run on GAE.

Answer 3

Re virtualenv question above: virtualenv have a parameter --python=PYTHON_EXE that you can point to the interpreter you'd like it to use. Running virtualenv without parameters or with an --help option whill show you which options you may pass it.