Installing wxWidgets and wxPython On Ubuntu Or Debian
There are wxWidgets and wxPython packages in the standard software repositories for Debian and Ubuntu, but they are usually at least a few releases behind the current release, and in some cases many releases behind. Since many users prefer to use only packages installed from repositories (for easier package management) but still would like to have newest versions possible of their installed software, we have our own APT repository that is usually updated within a few days of each release. To use it to be able to keep your wx on the cutting edge release just follow these instructions.
curl http://apt.wxwidgets.org/key.asc | sudo apt-key add -
Add the following lines to your /etc/apt/sources.list file (or use the "software sources" program under the "system" menu). Replace the "DIST" text with whatever is appropriate for your system. (See the table below for a list of supported distributions and architectures.)
# wxWidgets/wxPython repository at apt.wxwidgets.org
deb http://apt.wxwidgets.org/ DIST-wx main
deb-src http://apt.wxwidgets.org/ DIST-wx main
For example, if your distro is Ubuntu Gutsy, then you would use the following configuration statements:
# wxWidgets/wxPython repository at apt.wxwidgets.org
deb http://apt.wxwidgets.org/ gutsy-wx main
deb-src http://apt.wxwidgets.org/ gutsy-wx main
sudo apt-get update
You can now use your favorite package selection tool to install or upgrade the wxWidgets and wxPython packages. Here's how to do it with apt-get:
sudo apt-get install python-wxgtk2.8 python-wxtools wx2.8-i18n
These packages (and their dependencies) will replace earlier versions of wxPython and wxGTK in the same ReleaseSeries that may have been installed previously. There are a few other wx packages as well, but those listed above and their dependencies are the core that are needed for use with wxPython.
At a terminal, enter "lsb_release -a" to print what version of Ubuntu you have.
There are currently packages in the repository for these Ubuntu releases and architectures:
Release |
DIST name |
Architectures |
Python Versions |
Ubuntu 6.06 |
dapper 1 |
i386, amd64 |
2.4 |
Ubuntu 6.10 |
edgy 2 |
i386, amd64 |
2.4, 2.5 |
Ubuntu 7.04 |
feisty 3 |
i386, amd64 |
2.4, 2.5 |
Ubuntu 7.10 |
gutsy 4 |
i386, amd64 |
2.4, 2.5 |
Ubuntu 8.04 |
hardy |
i386, amd64 |
2.4, 2.5 |
Ubuntu 8.10 |
intrepid |
i386, amd64 |
2.4, 2.5 |
Ubuntu 9.04 |
Jaunty |
1386, amd64 |
2.5, 2.6 |
Debian 4.0 |
etch |
i386, amd64 |
2.4 |
Debian 5.0 |
lenny |
i386, amd64 |
2.4, 2.5 |
If you don't see the release or architecture that you need here you can get the source package and build your own set of binary packages. See BuildingDebianPackages for a how-to.
Starting with the 2.8.7.1 release this repository also contains packages for the ansi build of wxWidgets, all with an "-ansi" in their name. See UnicodeBuild for what this means.
[1] Since Hardy is a LTS (long term support) release like Dapper, the Dapper builds have been dropped starting with the 2.8.8.1 release.
[2] With the addition of the ansi builds in 2.8.7.1 it was decided to drop one of the Ubuntu builds in order to save time and other resources, so the Edgy release has been dropped. Previous versions of the wx packages are still in the Edgy repository.
[3] Latest release in the repository is 2.8.9.1
[4] Latest release in the repository is 2.8.9.2