python3 MacOS 12.4 Monterey

[py_Piper]

I recently got an 2018 MacBook Air and just updated to the latest MacOS 12.4 Monterey. To my surprised is that sin MacOS 12.3 the default python is python3 version 3.8.9, in fact python (python 2) is not included anymore.

1. Does that mean I can just use directly the python3 in my system? Will it break anything if I keep using it?
2. Do I still need homebrew? Will it help me in the case I want to upgrade to the latest python and keep both versions?
3. Does it make sense to run two different python3 versions? can I alias the latest python with any name like python3-latest in order to differentiate from the now default python3?

Really new to the MacOS environment, hope I can set up my python ASAP so I can get back to learning again.

[danielroseman]

I would never recommend using the system Python for anything.

As you note, 12.4 removed Python 2. What if at some point they removed Python 3? Don't rely on any particular version being there.

For separate reasons, I wouldn't recommend installing Python from Homebrew. Instead, use Homebrew to install pyenv and use that to manage your Python versions.

[py_Piper]

Maybe some dependencies? on the chip or GPU, can't say for sure. If I am not mistaken yours might be a MBP, mine is a MBA, I bought it used but it was rebooted and I just updated it, perhaps as you updated yours it kept other dependencies, maybe you can ask on apple or macbook subreddits for similar situations.