diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index a01aee8c0e0..be132252341 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ rebar3.crashdump
 /infer/src/java/dune
 /infer/src/nullsafe/unit/dune
 /infer/src/opensource/dune
+/infer/src/python/unit/dune
 /infer/src/unit/dune
 .merlin
 
diff --git a/Makefile.autoconf.in b/Makefile.autoconf.in
index d53ec9a8135..65e46f0c06f 100644
--- a/Makefile.autoconf.in
+++ b/Makefile.autoconf.in
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ PATCHELF := @PATCHELF@
 PATH := @PATH@
 PLATFORM_ENV := @PLATFORM_ENV@
 prefix := @prefix@
+PYTHON := @PYTHON@
 REALPATH := @REALPATH@
 REBAR3 := @REBAR3@
 SDKROOT := @SDKROOT@
diff --git a/build-infer.sh b/build-infer.sh
index a8a09fbf4ac..de6462dee6a 100755
--- a/build-infer.sh
+++ b/build-infer.sh
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ function usage() {
   echo "   erlang   build Erlang analyzer"
   echo "   hack     build Hack analyzer"
   echo "   java     build Java analyzer"
+  echo "   python   build Python analyzer"
   echo
   echo " options:"
   echo "   -h,--help             show this message"
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ BUILD_CLANG=${BUILD_CLANG:-no}
 BUILD_ERLANG=${BUILD_ERLANG:-no}
 BUILD_HACK=${BUILD_HACK:-no}
 BUILD_JAVA=${BUILD_JAVA:-no}
+BUILD_PYTHON=${BUILD_PYTHON:-no}
 INTERACTIVE=${INTERACTIVE:-yes}
 JOBS=${JOBS:-$NCPU}
 ONLY_SETUP_OPAM=${ONLY_SETUP_OPAM:-no}
@@ -69,6 +71,7 @@ function build_all() {
   BUILD_ERLANG=yes
   BUILD_HACK=yes
   BUILD_JAVA=yes
+  BUILD_PYTHON=yes
 }
 
 while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
@@ -99,6 +102,11 @@ while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
       shift
       continue
       ;;
+    python)
+      BUILD_PYTHON=yes
+      shift
+      continue
+      ;;
     -h|--help)
       usage
       exit 0
@@ -137,7 +145,8 @@ while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
 done
 
 if [ "$BUILD_CLANG" == "no" ] && [ "$BUILD_ERLANG" == "no" ] && \
-    [ "$BUILD_HACK" == "no" ] && [ "$BUILD_JAVA" == "no" ]; then
+   [ "$BUILD_HACK" == "no" ] && [ "$BUILD_JAVA" == "no" ] && \
+   [ "$BUILD_PYTHON" == "no" ]; then
   build_all
 fi
 
@@ -198,6 +207,9 @@ fi
 if [ "$BUILD_JAVA" == "no" ]; then
   CONFIGURE_PREPEND_OPTS+=" --disable-java-analyzers"
 fi
+if [ "$BUILD_PYTHON" == "no" ]; then
+  CONFIGURE_PREPEND_OPTS+=" --disable-python-analyzers"
+fi
 
 set -x
 # empty arrays trigger unbound variable errors, use horrible syntax to work around it
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 7c85e6fe027..c5b932171c8 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -130,6 +130,14 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(java-analyzers,
 BUILD_JAVA_ANALYZERS=$enable_java_analyzers
 AC_SUBST([BUILD_JAVA_ANALYZERS])
 
+AC_ARG_ENABLE(python-analyzers,
+  AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-python-analyzers],
+    [do not build the Python analyzers (default is to build them)]),
+  ,
+  enable_python_analyzers=yes)
+BUILD_python_ANALYZERS=$enable_python_analyzers
+AC_SUBST([BUILD_python_ANALYZERS])
+
 AC_ARG_WITH(fcp-clang,
   AS_HELP_STRING([--with-fcp-clang],
     [use $CLANG_PREFIX/bin/clang to override the default compiler (default is not to override)]),
@@ -167,6 +175,17 @@ AS_IF([test "x$enable_c_analyzers" = "xyes"], [
 ])
 # end if($enable_c_analyzers)
 
+AS_IF([test "x$enable_python_analyzers" = "xyes"], [
+  AC_CHECK_TOOL([PYTHON], [python3], [no])
+  AC_ASSERT_PROG([python3], [$PYTHON])
+  AC_MSG_CHECKING([python version])
+  python_version=$("$PYTHON" --version)
+  case $python_version in
+    Python\ 3.8.*) AC_MSG_RESULT([$python_version]); break;;
+    *) AC_MSG_ERROR([python version $python_version is not supported, please install python version 3.8 instead or disable python support with --disable-python-analyzers]); break;;
+  esac
+]) # end if($enable_python_analyzers)
+
 AC_CHECK_TOOL([XCODE_SELECT], [xcode-select], [no])
 AS_IF([test "x$XCODE_SELECT" != "xno"], [XCODE_SELECT_OUT=`xcode-select -p`])
 
@@ -281,7 +300,7 @@ AC_ARG_VAR([OPAMSWITCH], [Opam switch used for building infer.])
 AC_CHECK_TOOL([OPAM], [opam], [no])
 AS_IF([test "$OPAM" != "no"], [
   AC_MSG_CHECKING([opam version])
-  opam_version=$(opam --version)
+  opam_version=$("$OPAM" --version)
   case $opam_version in
     2.*) AC_MSG_RESULT([$opam_version]); break;;
     *) AC_MSG_ERROR([opam version $opam_version is not supported, please install opam version 2 instead]); break;;
diff --git a/infer/src/Makefile b/infer/src/Makefile
index 8ad48495f6c..b17cce55ee3 100644
--- a/infer/src/Makefile
+++ b/infer/src/Makefile
@@ -56,7 +56,8 @@ GENERATED_FROM_AUTOCONF = dune.common ../dune-workspace base/Version.ml
 .PHONY: dune-workspace
 dune-workspace: ../dune-workspace
 
-GENERATED_DUNES += dune clang/dune integration/dune java/dune opensource/dune unit/dune
+GENERATED_DUNES += \
+  dune clang/dune integration/dune java/dune opensource/dune python/unit/dune unit/dune
 
 SRC_BUILD_COMMON = $(GENERATED_FROM_AUTOCONF) $(GENERATED_DUNES) $(OCAML_SOURCES)
 ifeq ($(BUILD_C_ANALYZERS),yes)
@@ -233,6 +234,7 @@ $(GENERATED_FROM_AUTOCONF): $(MAKEFILE_LIST)
 	  -e "s|@OPAMSWITCH[@]|$(OPAMSWITCH)|g" \
 	  -e "s|@XCODE_SELECT[@]|$(XCODE_SELECT)|g" \
 	  -e "s|@INFER_MAN_LAST_MODIFIED[@]|$(INFER_MAN_LAST_MODIFIED)|g" \
+	  -e "s|@PYTHON[@]|$(PYTHON)|g" \
 	  $@.in > "$$TMPFILE"; \
 	cat "$$TMPFILE" > $@; \
 	echo -e "\n;;" >> $@; \
@@ -249,6 +251,7 @@ clang/dune: clang/dune.in
 integration/dune: integration/dune.in
 java/dune: java/dune.in
 opensource/dune: opensource/dune.in
+python/unit/dune: python/unit/dune.in
 unit/dune: unit/dune.in
 
 .PHONY: clean
diff --git a/infer/src/base/Version.ml.in b/infer/src/base/Version.ml.in
index 97a82592749..2c41d52609c 100644
--- a/infer/src/base/Version.ml.in
+++ b/infer/src/base/Version.ml.in
@@ -56,3 +56,5 @@ let java_version = int_of_string_opt "@JAVA_MAJOR_VERSION@"
 let xcode_enabled = is_not_no "@XCODE_SELECT@"
 
 let man_pages_last_modify_date = "@INFER_MAN_LAST_MODIFIED@"
+
+let python_exe = "@PYTHON@"
diff --git a/infer/src/base/Version.mli b/infer/src/base/Version.mli
index 2d5cd11b906..cbda0300c97 100644
--- a/infer/src/base/Version.mli
+++ b/infer/src/base/Version.mli
@@ -36,3 +36,5 @@ val java_version : int option
 val xcode_enabled : bool
 
 val man_pages_last_modify_date : string
+
+val python_exe : string [@@warning "-unused-value-declaration"] (* used in unit tests *)
diff --git a/infer/src/datalog/scripts/test/Makefile b/infer/src/datalog/scripts/test/Makefile
index 886a01652f4..0eca2e58148 100644
--- a/infer/src/datalog/scripts/test/Makefile
+++ b/infer/src/datalog/scripts/test/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ build-targets:
 	make -C java_targets
 
 test-classdump: build-targets
-	python3 $(SCRIPTS_DIR)/classdump.py --output $(SCRIPTS_DIR)/test/classdump_out $(JAR_FILES)
+	"$PYTHON" $(SCRIPTS_DIR)/classdump.py --output $(SCRIPTS_DIR)/test/classdump_out $(JAR_FILES)
 	@$(foreach jarfile,$(notdir $(JAR_FILES)),$(call check_no_diff,$(SCRIPTS_DIR)/test/classdump_out/$(jarfile).classes,$(SCRIPTS_DIR)/test/classdump_exp/$(jarfile).classes.exp);)
 
 clean:
diff --git a/infer/src/dune.common.in b/infer/src/dune.common.in
index 717bd1991bc..31e13e4bec1 100644
--- a/infer/src/dune.common.in
+++ b/infer/src/dune.common.in
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ let hack = is_yes "@BUILD_HACK_ANALYZERS@"
 
 let java = is_yes "@BUILD_JAVA_ANALYZERS@"
 
+let python = is_yes "@BUILD_PYTHON_ANALYZERS@"
+
 let facebook = is_yes "@IS_FACEBOOK_TREE@"
 
 let extra_cflags = if is_empty "@EXTRA_CFLAGS@" then [] else ["@EXTRA_CFLAGS@"]
diff --git a/infer/src/python/FFI.ml b/infer/src/python/FFI.ml
index 00fa19cb0db..4a42120baa9 100644
--- a/infer/src/python/FFI.ml
+++ b/infer/src/python/FFI.ml
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ let from_bytecode filename =
 
 
 let from_file ~is_binary filename =
-  Py.initialize ~interpreter:"/usr/bin/python3.8" () ;
+  Py.initialize ~interpreter:Version.python_exe () ;
   let code = if is_binary then from_bytecode filename else from_source filename in
   Py.finalize () ;
   code
diff --git a/infer/src/python/unit/FFITest.ml b/infer/src/python/unit/FFITest.ml
index ad926be91bd..389a2890365 100644
--- a/infer/src/python/unit/FFITest.ml
+++ b/infer/src/python/unit/FFITest.ml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ let%test_module "load_code" =
     let source = "x = 42"
 
     let%expect_test _ =
-      Py.initialize ~version:3 ~minor:8 () ;
+      Py.initialize ~interpreter:Version.python_exe () ;
       let res = FFI.from_string ~source ~filename:"dummy" in
       Py.finalize () ;
       F.printf "%s" (FFI.Code.show res) ;
diff --git a/infer/src/python/unit/PyTransTest.ml b/infer/src/python/unit/PyTransTest.ml
index 87185f80e10..ef4a4160a7e 100644
--- a/infer/src/python/unit/PyTransTest.ml
+++ b/infer/src/python/unit/PyTransTest.ml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ let%test_module "to_proc_desc" =
 
     let%expect_test _ =
       let source = "x = 42" in
-      Py.initialize ~version:3 ~minor:8 () ;
+      Py.initialize ~interpreter:Version.python_exe () ;
       let code = FFI.from_string ~source ~filename:"dummy" in
       Py.finalize () ;
       let res = PyTrans.to_module ~sourcefile "$toplevel::main" code in
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ let%test_module "to_proc_desc" =
 x = 42
 print(x)
       |} in
-      Py.initialize ~version:3 ~minor:8 () ;
+      Py.initialize ~interpreter:Version.python_exe () ;
       let code = FFI.from_string ~source ~filename:"dummy" in
       Py.finalize () ;
       let res = PyTrans.to_module ~sourcefile "$toplevel::main" code in
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ x = 42
 y = 10
 print(x + y)
       |} in
-      Py.initialize ~version:3 ~minor:8 () ;
+      Py.initialize ~interpreter:Version.python_exe () ;
       let code = FFI.from_string ~source ~filename:"dummy" in
       Py.finalize () ;
       let res = PyTrans.to_module ~sourcefile "$toplevel::main" code in
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ z = my_fun(42, a)
 print(z)
       |}
       in
-      Py.initialize ~version:3 ~minor:8 () ;
+      Py.initialize ~interpreter:Version.python_exe () ;
       let code = FFI.from_string ~source ~filename:"dummy" in
       Py.finalize () ;
       let res = PyTrans.to_module ~sourcefile "$toplevel::main" code in
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ update_global()
 print(z)
       |}
       in
-      Py.initialize ~version:3 ~minor:8 () ;
+      Py.initialize ~interpreter:Version.python_exe () ;
       let code = FFI.from_string ~source ~filename:"dummy" in
       Py.finalize () ;
       let res = PyTrans.to_module ~sourcefile "$toplevel::main" code in
diff --git a/infer/src/python/unit/dune b/infer/src/python/unit/dune
deleted file mode 100644
index 5ec227efa45..00000000000
--- a/infer/src/python/unit/dune
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-; Copyright (c) Facebook, Inc. and its affiliates.
-;
-; This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
-; LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
-
-(library
- (name PythonFrontendTest)
- (flags
-  (:standard
-   -open
-   IStdlib
-   -open
-   IStd
-   -open
-   IBase
-   -open
-   PythonFrontend
-   -open
-   Textuallib))
- (libraries IStdlib IBase PythonFrontend Textuallib)
- (preprocess
-  (pps ppx_deriving.std ppx_expect ppx_inline_test))
- (inline_tests))
diff --git a/infer/src/python/unit/dune.in b/infer/src/python/unit/dune.in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a4bd296d13d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/infer/src/python/unit/dune.in
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+(* -*- tuareg -*- *)
+(*
+ * Copyright (c) Facebook, Inc. and its affiliates.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ *)
+(* NOTE: prepend dune.common to this file! *)
+
+let library =
+  Printf.sprintf
+    {|
+(library
+ (name PythonFrontendTest)
+ (flags
+  (:standard
+   -open
+   IStdlib
+   -open
+   IStd
+   -open
+   IBase
+   -open
+   PythonFrontend
+   -open
+   Textuallib))
+ (libraries IStdlib IBase PythonFrontend Textuallib)
+ (preprocess
+  (pps ppx_deriving.std ppx_expect ppx_inline_test))
+ %s
+)
+|} (if python then "(inline_tests)" else "")
+;;
+
+Jbuild_plugin.V1.send library