Python Scripts to Detect Which Version You're Running

These code snippets help you programmatically determine which Python version you're using, check compatibility, and get detailed version information.

Basic Version Detection #

Simple ways to check which Python version is running:

Detailed Version Information #

Get comprehensive details about which Python version and build you're using:

Version Compatibility Checker #

Script to check if your current Python version meets specific requirements:

Feature Detection by Version #

Check which Python features are available in your version:

import sys

def check_python_features():
    """Check which Python features are available based on version"""
    version = sys.version_info
    features = {}
    
    # Python 3.8 features
    if version >= (3, 8):
        features['walrus_operator'] = True  # :=
        features['positional_only_params'] = True  # def func(x, /)
        features['f_string_equals'] = True  # f"{x=}"
    
    # Python 3.9 features  
    if version >= (3, 9):
        features['dict_union_operators'] = True  # dict1 | dict2
        features['type_hinting_generics'] = True  # list[str]
        features['string_methods'] = True  # str.removeprefix()
    
    # Python 3.10 features
    if version >= (3, 10):
        features['match_statement'] = True  # match/case
        features['union_types'] = True  # int | str
        features['parenthesized_context_managers'] = True
    
    # Python 3.11 features
    if version >= (3, 11):
        features['exception_groups'] = True
        features['fine_grained_error_locations'] = True
        features['tomllib'] = True
    
    # Python 3.12 features
    if version >= (3, 12):
        features['f_string_debugging'] = True
        features['type_params'] = True  # Generic classes
        features['buffer_protocol'] = True
    
    return features

# Check available features
available_features = check_python_features()
print("Available Python features:")
for feature, available in available_features.items():
    print(f"  {feature}: {'✅' if available else '❌'}")

Environment and Installation Detection #

Determine which Python installation and environment you're using:

Version Comparison Utility #

Compare different Python versions and check upgrade recommendations:

import sys
from datetime import datetime

def should_upgrade_python():
    """Analyze current Python version and suggest upgrades"""
    current = sys.version_info
    
    # Python support timeline (simplified)
    version_status = {
        (3, 8): {'status': 'Security fixes only', 'eol': '2024-10'},
        (3, 9): {'status': 'Security fixes only', 'eol': '2025-10'},
        (3, 10): {'status': 'Bug fixes', 'eol': '2026-10'},
        (3, 11): {'status': 'Active development', 'eol': '2027-10'},
        (3, 12): {'status': 'Latest stable', 'eol': '2028-10'},
    }
    
    current_key = (current.major, current.minor)
    current_status = version_status.get(current_key, {'status': 'Unknown', 'eol': 'Unknown'})
    
    recommendations = []
    
    if current < (3, 9):
        recommendations.append("🚨 Immediate upgrade recommended - security risk")
    elif current < (3, 10):
        recommendations.append("⚠️  Upgrade recommended - limited support")
    elif current < (3, 11):
        recommendations.append("📈 Consider upgrading for better performance")
    else:
        recommendations.append("✅ Current version is well supported")
    
    return {
        'current_version': f"{current.major}.{current.minor}.{current.micro}",
        'status': current_status['status'],
        'end_of_life': current_status['eol'],
        'recommendations': recommendations
    }

# Get upgrade recommendations
upgrade_info = should_upgrade_python()
print("Python Version Analysis:")
print(f"Current: {upgrade_info['current_version']}")
print(f"Status: {upgrade_info['status']}")
print(f"End of Life: {upgrade_info['end_of_life']}")
print("Recommendations:")
for rec in upgrade_info['recommendations']:
    print(f"  {rec}")

Quick Version Detection Script #

Minimal script to quickly identify which Python version you're running:

Usage Tips #

When to use these scripts:

• At the start of Python programs to verify compatibility
• In deployment scripts to check environment setup
• For debugging version-related issues
• When documenting system requirements

Best practices:

• Include version checks in critical applications
• Log version information for debugging
• Use feature detection rather than version comparison when possible
• Test scripts across different Python installations

These snippets help you programmatically determine which Python version you're working with and ensure compatibility across different environments.