How to change SQLite version used by Python?

Question

I have Python 3.8 installed alongside SQLite 3.16.2 on Debian 9.12 and I need to upgrade to a newer version of SQLite. I've downloaded and compiled the amalgamation available on the SQLite's site, and put it in /usr/bin, so when I do

$ sqlite3 --version

I get 3.32.3 in response (which is the version I compiled).

However, when I do

$ python3.8
>>> import sqlite3
>>> sqlite3.sqlite_version

I get 3.16.2, which is the earlier version. How do I change the SQLite version picked up by Python?

mkrieger1 suggested that this question may answer mine. It won't work here, as the solution provided there is directed at Python 2, not Python 3. pysqlite2 does not work with Python 3.

• mkrieger1: Does this answer your question? Python sqlite3: run different sqlite3 version
• Xeoth: That answer is provided for Python 2, and I'm working with Python 3. pysqlite2 does not work with Python 3, unfortunately.
• Eno Gerguri: @Xeoth Did I answer your question?
• Giacomo Catenazzi: Do you really need it? It could break some assumption on other python standard lib modules. I think you can recompile Python with the version you want [and check with the test in Python source if it is safe to do so].

Answer 1

In my case I cannot replace with newer version because I cannot find these files. (I installed the sqlite-autoconf-3350500)

I used another manner to let it work just execute below command

export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="/usr/local/lib"
>>> import sqlite3
>>> sqlite3.sqlite_version
'3.35.5'

• Utkarsh: After 8hrs of effort this export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="/usr/local/lib" helped me, thanks

Answer 2

The way I would go around it, is by finding out the path to the old sqlite version that you are importing:

import sqlite3
print(sqlite3.__file__)

For me, this outputs:

C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME_HERE\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python38\lib\sqlite3\__init__.py

Go to the lib path:

C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME_HERE\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python38\lib

Then find the sqlite3 folder and delete it, then replace it with your up-to-date version. Re-try:

>>> import sqlite3
>>> sqlite3.sqlite_version

You should get your new version.

Answer 3

Rather than use sqlite's installation defaults to overwrite the system /usr/bin/sqlite3, and for which will be overwritten by yum updates, instead, make use of /usr/local/bin which for most will be further up on the PATH than /usr/bin (if it's not in your case, then make use of some other directory that is and use that in the below steps). Furthermore, this ties in nicely with /usr/local/lib64 for dynamic libs.

# One time setup -- Change to preference
echo "/usr/local/lib64" | sudo tee /etc/ld.so.conf.d/local-lib64.conf

# SQLite3 Upgrade steps
## Build
curl https://www.sqlite.org/2024/sqlite-autoconf-3460100.tar.gz | tar xzf -
cd sqlite-autoconf-3460100
./configure --prefix=/usr/local --libdir=/usr/local/lib64
make
## Install
sudo make install
libtool --finish /usr/local/lib64
sudo ldconfig
hash -r
## Verify
sqlite3 -version
# > 3.46.1 2024年08月13日 09:16:08 c9c2ab54ba1f5f46360f1b4f35d849cd3f080e6fc2b6c60e91b16c63f69a1e33 (64-bit)
ldconfig -p | grep sqlite # newer libs at /usr/local/lib64
# > libsqlite3.so.0 (libc6,x86-64) => /usr/local/lib64/libsqlite3.so.0
# > libsqlite3.so.0 (libc6,x86-64) => /lib64/libsqlite3.so.0
# > libsqlite3.so (libc6,x86-64) => /usr/local/lib64/libsqlite3.so
# > libsqlite3.so (libc6,x86-64) => /lib64/libsqlite3.so
python3 -c 'import sqlite3; print(sqlite3.sqlite_version)'
# > 3.46.1

Answer 4

If you use conda, you can choose a specific version with libsqlite, for instance libsqlite==3.46.1. Please note that libsqlite is available only in conda.