Installing newer Python than 3.5.5 in NI-RT Linux

[JacobsCSD]

I've got an 8861 PXI head unit with NI-RT Linux and find myself in need of a newer version of Python than the one that ships with the latest system image (20.6 as of this message).  I tried using opkg update and opkg install python3 to get the latest, but as others have posted, that did not work. 

After many searches on the internet and these forums, I have successfully downloaded and compiled the latest python 3.9 from source.  This tells me that the python script, and the python library that requires python 3.6+, will run and work with that solution.  I just want to know if there is a better way to get a newer than 3.5.5 version of Python onto my controller, without compiling from source.

[TurboPhil]

Sorry, no answer to offer here. Just chiming in on this thread because I found myself asking the same question. Maybe a bump might get more eyes on this and a response from somebody at NI...

[JacobsCSD]

The good news is that I was able to download and compile python 3.9 from source on the RT controller.  I'd still like to see a newer version of python ship on the RT controllers, but it was possible to get a newer version up and running.

[Brian.D]

To get major version bumps of packages like Python ship, we perform a full distribution update to ensure compatibility between other packages and dependencies. We are actively working on our next distribution update, which would include a newer Python version among many other updates. Here is tentatively what we are looking at: https://github.com/ni/openembedded-core/blob/nilrt/master/hardknott/meta/recipes-devtools/python/pyt.... I cannot guarantee a timeline for when the update will ship yet, but we are actively working on it.

In addition, we are also working to clarify a policy around our distribution updates so that customers can more easily understand which System Images include these updates.

We are glad to hear that some users can be successful in the meantime by compiling from source, but we also understand the desire and need in some cases to have the newer versions of these packages included.

NI - Staff Product Owner