Dropping Python 3.7 for NumPy 1.22

Hi All,
This is to propose dropping Python 3.7 for NumPy 1.22. Doing so will allow merging the array API standard https://github.com/numpy/numpy/pull/18585 (keyword only arguments), simplify removing import time compiles https://github.com/numpy/numpy/pull/19638, allow making 64 bit pickles the default, and bring annotations closer to current. NEP 29 https://numpy.org/neps/nep-0029-deprecation_policy.html suggests Dec 26, 2021 for the drop date, which is close to the likely 1.22 release date, but given the advantages of dropping 3.7 I think there are good reasons to cheat by a week or two if needed. Downstream projects releasing after 1.22 will probably want to drop Python 3.7 anyway, as they will be past the deadline.
Thoughts?
Chuck

On Fri, Aug 13, 2021 at 3:41 AM Charles R Harris charlesr.harris@gmail.com wrote:
Hi All,
This is to propose dropping Python 3.7 for NumPy 1.22. Doing so will allow merging the array API standard https://github.com/numpy/numpy/pull/18585 (keyword only arguments), simplify removing import time compiles https://github.com/numpy/numpy/pull/19638, allow making 64 bit pickles the default, and bring annotations closer to current. NEP 29 https://numpy.org/neps/nep-0029-deprecation_policy.html suggests Dec 26, 2021 for the drop date, which is close to the likely 1.22 release date, but given the advantages of dropping 3.7 I think there are good reasons to cheat by a week or two if needed. Downstream projects releasing after 1.22 will probably want to drop Python 3.7 anyway, as they will be past the deadline.
Thoughts?
+1 from me. Python 3.10 is out by then, and supporting three Python releases for 1.22 seems fine. And the benefits are interesting.
Cheers, Ralf
participants (2)
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Charles R Harris
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Ralf Gommers