How to update-alternatives to Python 3 without breaking apt?

Question

The other day I decided that I wanted the command python to default to firing up python3 instead of python2.

So I did this:

$ sudo update-alternative         


        

Answer 1

Somehow python 3 came back (after some updates?) and is causing big issues with apt updates, so I've decided to remove python 3 completely from the alternatives:

root:~# python -V
Python 3.5.2

root:~# update-alternatives --config python
There are 2 choices for the alternative python (providing /usr/bin/python).

  Selection    Path                Priority   Status
------------------------------------------------------------
* 0            /usr/bin/python3.5   3         auto mode
  1            /usr/bin/python2.7   2         manual mode
  2            /usr/bin/python3.5   3         manual mode


root:~# update-alternatives --remove python /usr/bin/python3.5

root:~# update-alternatives --config python
There is 1 choice for the alternative python (providing /usr/bin/python).

    Selection    Path                Priority   Status
------------------------------------------------------------
  0            /usr/bin/python2.7   2         auto mode
* 1            /usr/bin/python2.7   2         manual mode

Press  to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number: 0


root:~# python -V
Python 2.7.12

root:~# update-alternatives --config python
There is only one alternative in link group python (providing /usr/bin/python): /usr/bin/python2.7
Nothing to configure.