Can't use pythonw as interpreter when needed on Mac

Problem Description

When I try to run a wxPython script (such as the example below) from within spyder, I get this error:

SystemExit: This program needs access to the screen. Please run with a Framework build of python, and only when you are logged in on the main display of your Mac.

The normal solution is to run the script in pythonw (from anaconda python.app package). FWIW, the shell script to start spyder itself is running pythonw via the shebang.

When I try to use the “Preferences/Python interpreter” command to change to pythonw, it will not accept that change with error message:

You selected an invalid Python interpreter for the console so the previous interpreter will stay. Please make sure to select a valid one.

import wx
app = wx.PySimpleApp() # create the App
frm = wx.Frame(None) # create a frame
btn = wx.StaticText(frm,-1,'An MT frame is boring')
frm.Show()
app.MainLoop()

Package Versions

• Spyder: 3.2.8
• Python: 3.6.5 (64 bit)
• Qt: 5.9.4
• PyQt: 5.9.2
• Operating System: Mac OS X 10.12.6

Dependencies

IPython >=4.0    :  6.3.1 (OK)
cython >=0.21    :  None (NOK)
jedi >=0.9.0     :  0.12.0 (OK)
nbconvert >=4.0  :  5.3.1 (OK)
numpy >=1.7      :  1.13.3 (OK)
pandas >=0.13.1  :  None (NOK)
psutil >=0.3     :  5.4.5 (OK)
pycodestyle >=2.3:  2.4.0 (OK)
pyflakes >=0.6.0 :  1.6.0 (OK)
pygments >=2.0   :  2.2.0 (OK)
pylint >=0.25    :  1.8.4 (OK)
qtconsole >=4.2.0:  4.3.1 (OK)
rope >=0.9.4     :  0.10.7 (OK)
sphinx >=0.6.6   :  1.7.4 (OK)
sympy >=0.7.3    :  None (NOK)

[ccordoba12]

@dalthviz, this probably happens in macOS because pythonw is not a binary file and so it gets rejected by our initial validation.

[superashtex]

Hi @dalthviz, I restore “programs.py” and “test_program.py” back to the ones in #7170 and I ran the app. The “is_python_interpreter” menu item shows “False” and the “warn_compatibility” menu item doesn’t show anything.