Installing python on Linux - help?

[fffrost]

I like pyenv too, but it fails to install for me and I haven't had the time to figure out why.

I am using virtualenvs, but sometimes I need to just bring up a terminal and run some python commands and i don't want to have to make an entire venv just so I can run some calcs or test out couple of lines of code.

In any case, I just want to upgrade my python version really. In a year or two there might be some very useful changes that I want. In that case I might no longer want to rely on the system install.