Cannot get python IDLE 2.7, 3.3 to run - OS X

Question

I am running a MacBook Pro with 8gb of memory and a 2.5GHz processor. I run OS X Mavericks, but this problem has happened on other operating systems as well. when I try to open the editor, or even open a python file, this happens:

This has been a problem since I got into python. I have tried as many versions as I can, and the same screen pops up. Please help

Answer 1

I was having the exact same problem.

I was finally able to install Python (and IDLE) via MacPorts by also installing a package called "pyXX-tkinter" -- where XX is the version, e.g. py34-tkinter for Python 3.4.

Answer 2

I recently also upgraded a friends iMac to OS X 10.9 Mavericks and her Python to 2.7.6. If you mount the python-2.7.6-macosx10.6.dmg disk image there's a text file named ReadMe.txt. If you ahem, actually read it, right near the beginning it says:

           **** IMPORTANT ****

Update your version of Tcl/Tk to use IDLE or other Tk applications

To use IDLE or other programs that use the Tkinter graphical user interface toolkit, you may need to install a newer third-party version of the Tcl/Tk frameworks. Visit http://www.python.org/download/mac/tcltk/ for current information about supported and recommended versions of Tcl/Tk for this version of Python and of Mac OS X.

Here's what http://www.python.org/download/mac/tcltk currently looks like (my highlighting):

To summarize: You need to download and install ActiveTcl 8.5.15.1 (which is mislabeled ActiveTcl 8.5.15.0) from ActiveState's webpage. After doing that you should be able to run IDLE:

I haven't actually tried to do it yet, but from what I read it sounds like the same process applies to Python 3.3.3 and its IDLE app.