title: Can I install Python 2.7.1 64bit along side of an exsiting 32bit install on OS X?
body: <p><strong>Short Description</strong><br>
  Is it possible to install Python 2.7.1 64/32bit from <a href="http://www.python.org/download/#id11" rel="nofollow">python.org</a> on top of an existing install (from python.org) of Python 2.7.1 32bit?  </p>
  
  <p><strong>Background</strong><br>
  I installed the 32bit version for wxPython(2.8) support which until now has given me zero issues.  There are a few modules that I am now having difficultly installing (psycopg2 and mysql-python).  The warning messages in homebrew constantly warn me about not having a 64bit version of Python on the path.  These warnings only add to my list of wanting to use a 64 bit version.  </p>
  
  <p>At the time I selected the 32bit install, the GUI for a particular project was the main focus.  Now the GUI has been come very simple and the database back-end support (using Django) is much more important.  This being said, using the development version of wxPython 2.9 (which supports OS X and 64bit 2.7) has become acceptable.</p>
  
  <p>For the non-mac users, to help explain why I had to use the 32bit version please see this <a href="http://batok.github.com/virtualenvwxp/" rel="nofollow">Brief guide to using virtualenv in a wxpython project</a>  </p>
  
  <p><strong>System Information</strong><br>
  <em>Development System</em><br>
  <em>OS:</em> Mac OS X Snow Leopard (10.6.7)<br>
  <em>Python:</em> 2.7.1 with virutalenv / virutalenv-wrapper<br>
  <em>Project Dependencies:</em><br>
  Note that MySQL could be PostgresSQL's psycopg2 if I can get the postgresql to install with homebrew  </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Django==1.2.5<br>
    MySQL-python==1.2.3<br>
    PIL==1.1.7<br>
    PyVISA==1.3<br>
    pyserial==2.5<br>
    virtualenv==1.5.1<br>
    virtualenvwrapper==2.6.3<br>
    wsgiref==0.1.2<br>
    wxPython==2.8.11.0<br>
    wxPython-common==2.8.11.0  </p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p><em>Deployment System</em><br>
  <em>OS:</em> Windows XP / Windows 7<br>
  <em>Python:</em> Hopefully none (goal to use py2exe, or similar tool)  </p>
  
  <p><strong>Current Thoughts</strong><br>
  I fear that my goal cannot be accomplished based on the file paths alone.  In Windows 7 the identifier (x86) is placed in the path showing that it is a 32bit program, but on OS X the path would be the same for 32bit or 64/32bit installs (/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/).  </p>
  
  <p>Any thoughts or comments would be helpful!  </p>
  
  <p><strong>Update 5-18-2011: 8:40 AM</strong><br>
  I have confirmed that using the pre-compiled (.dmg) framework builds, installing the a 64 bit version <em>does</em> blow away the 32 bit install.  This did negatively effect my virtual environments in that all of the things I have installed in the environments was based on the 32 bit install nearly every module threw an error of some sort.  </p>
  
  <p>I still have not achieved installing 32 bit and 64 bit on the same machine, however looking into <a href="https://github.com/mxcl/homebrew" rel="nofollow">homebrew</a> with greater detail does look this <em>could</em> be possible.  The trick would be to define your own formulas for each of the python builds (from source) and rename the install directory to something like 'Python27_32' and 'Python27_64'.  I'll keep exploring this front as I have time.</p>
  
  <p><strong>EDIT 7-12-2011: 10:51 AM CST</strong><br>
  Has anyone out there been able control how homebrew compile options?  Specifically how to select to use a 64bit compiler or a 32 bit compiler?  I will create a new SO question if this doesn't bring anything up. </p>