Tips: Multiple Python Versions with MacPorts

I wanted to try python3 with MacPorts on my macbook, but wasn't sure if I want to remove older versions yet (for GAE and such).

Anyways I searched and installed the latest one available with MacPorts.

$ port search python3

which lists python versions 3.1.2 and 3.2.  I wanted the newer one, so I did:

$ sudo port install python32

to install python 3.2 successfully.

Then I checked the version:

$ python -V
Python 2.5.4

So python still pointed to an old version.  I could type "python3.2" and run the 3.2 version (actually I've managed to use other versions like that).

Then I found a discussion on this topic:
http://superuser.com/questions/35256/how-can-i-change-the-default-python-version-on-snow-leopard
 

OK, so the python_select package seems just what I wanted.

$ sudo port install python_select
$ python_select -l

gave me some output:

Available versions:
current none python26 python26-apple python27 python32

Now I tried:

$ python_select python32

which didn't work, because it modifies the macports system info...

A command that works:

$ sudo python_select python32
$ python -V
Python 3.2