Python 2.7.8 on Centos 5

Dockerfile

FROM tianon/centos:5.8

RUN yum install -y curl tar gcc make xz

RUN mkdir /usr/src/python
WORKDIR /usr/src/python
RUN curl -Sl "https://www.python.org/ftp/python/2.7.8/Python-2.7.8.tar.xz" > Python-2.7.8.tar.xz
RUN xz -dc < Python-2.7.8.tar.xz > Python-2.7.8.tar
RUN tar -xvf Python-2.7.8.tar -C /usr/src/python --strip-components=1
# You may want to verify the download with gpg: https://www.python.org/download

RUN ./configure --prefix=/usr/local \
    && make

RUN make install \
    && make clean

python2.7.8-centos5

bash-3.2# cat /etc/redhat-release
CentOS release 5.8 (Final)

# System Python remains intact
bash-3.2# /usr/bin/python -c 'import sys; print sys.version'
2.4.3 (#1, Jan  9 2013, 06:47:03)
[GCC 4.1.2 20080704 (Red Hat 4.1.2-54)]

# Python 2.7.8 is compiled and installed to /usr/local
bash-3.2# /usr/local/bin/python2.7 --version
Python 2.7.8