Python 2.7.3 for old gnu/linux systems (test debian/ubuntu)

gistfile1.sh

# Install minimal development tools
apt-get install build-essential

# Get python from official python ftp
cd /tmp
wget http://www.python.org/ftp/python/2.7.3/Python-2.7.3.tar.bz2
tar jxvf Python-2.7.3.tar.bz2
cd Python-2.7.3/

# Configure, compile and install python to /opt/py2.7
./configure prefix=/opt/py2.7 --enable-shared --with-signal-module --with-threads
make
make install

# Configure library paths, alternatively you can use LD_LIBRAY_PATH to execute python
echo /opt/py2.7/lib/ >> /etc/ld.so.conf.d/python2.7.conf
ldconfig