[Pythonmac-SIG] Re: Main Python on Mac version?

[Bob Ippolito]

On Feb 18, 2005, at 12:14 AM, Nick Matsakis wrote:

> Jack wrote:
>
>> This thread touches on something I've been wanting to do for some time
>> now: add a "Which Python do I need" page to the website. I'd like to
>> organise this by MacOS version, so people can quickly determine what
>> they need.
>
> So, is there any word on what version of Python will be shipping with
> 10.4?  Has a line of communication been worked out to ensure it is the
> latest and greatest?  Apple's internal schedule is shrouded in mystery,
> but there's a good chance that the ability to make changes at that 
> level
> has either passed or will pass in very short order.

The only public information w.r.t. Mac OS X 10.4 and Python is that the 
WWDC sources had Python 2.3.3 with some patches.

Right now, Python 2.3.5 is the only stable released version that I 
would recommend for inclusion into Mac OS X.  Python 2.4.0 would 
currently be a mistake, but certainly not as bad as 2.2.0 (Mac OS X 
10.2) or 2.3.0 (Mac OS X 10.3).  Python 2.4.1 may be good, but it 
certainly hasn't had enough eyes on it yet on OS X.  This might've been 
different if there were an installer available, but right now it must 
be built from source.

The version of Python that is packaged with Mac OS X 10.4 is a 
double-edged sword.  If it ships with 2.3.5, then semi-standalone 
packages built on Mac OS X 10.3 should continue to work (and to a large 
extent, vice versa).  If Python 2.4.x is chosen, it is likely that all 
semi-standalone applications will break.  If it ships with 2.3.5, then 
Zope should work.  If it ships with 2.4.1, it might, but it's not 
currently a supported configuration AFAIK.

Given the history, it's reasonable to assume that we'll be stuck with 
the shipped version of Python until the next major revision to Mac OS 
X.  If the decision had to be made today, I would hope that they choose 
2.3.5.  We'll have to see about 2.4.1 when it's released, but 2.3.5 is 
currently the safest choice and probably the most likely.

-bob