MAXREPEAT issue when running Python 2.7 from MacPorts
Question: I'm running into some issues with running python2.7 from MacPorts.

Here's a list of the available Python versions:

    
    
    $ sudo port select python
    Available versions for python:
        none
        python25-apple
        python26-apple
        python27 (active)
        python27-apple
    

When I set `python27` to be active (as above), I get the following error when
running `python`:

    
    
    $ sudo port select --set python python27
    Selecting 'python27' for 'python' succeeded. 'python27' is now active.
    $ python
    Traceback (most recent call last):
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 548, in <module>
        main()
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 530, in main
        known_paths = addusersitepackages(known_paths)
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 266, in addusersitepackages
        user_site = getusersitepackages()
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 241, in getusersitepackages
        user_base = getuserbase() # this will also set USER_BASE
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 231, in getuserbase
        USER_BASE = get_config_var('userbase')
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sysconfig.py", line 516, in get_config_var
        return get_config_vars().get(name)
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sysconfig.py", line 449, in get_config_vars
        import re
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/re.py", line 105, in <module>
        import sre_compile
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sre_compile.py", line 14, in <module>
        import sre_parse
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sre_parse.py", line 17, in <module>
        from sre_constants import *
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sre_constants.py", line 18, in <module>
        from _sre import MAXREPEAT
    ImportError: cannot import name MAXREPEAT
    

The version of the port I have installed is (according to `sudo port
installed`):

    
    
    python27 @2.7.5_1
    python27 @2.7.5_1+universal (active)
    

I do not get the above error when running `python2.7`, only when I run
`python` in the shell.

    
    
    $ which python2.7
    /opt/local/bin/python2.7
    
    $ which python
    /opt/local/bin/python
    

Any suggestions?

Thanks.


Answer: I just experienced the same issue. A quick and easy workaround is to add an
alias in ~/.profile:

    
    
    alias python='python2.7'
    

If you don't have a .profile file already, just create one. Open a new
instance of terminal and python should work fine with no errors.

