[Neuroimaging] Python 3 statement

[Yaroslav Halchenko]

On Thu, 01 Dec 2016, Gael Varoquaux wrote:

> I think that this is taking the problem by the wrong end. It's using the
> stick rather than the carrot. If people have no other arguments to
> convince to move to Python 3 than the fact that support is going to end,
> users are not going to think much of us.

> No, the right way is to convince the ecosystem, mainly Afni and FSL that
> they should be using Python 3. I tried for FSL. I don't know if I was
> successful.

> What would be important is to outline the great things that can be done
> with Python 3, to convince people writing code that they would be more
> productive in Python 3. Possibly, if a feature is much easier to be
> implemented in Python 3 than Python 2, than you should code that feature
> only for 3.

> Think in terms of users, not developers. It really defeats me than no
> argument on that page is about how great Python 3 is.

> This looks like planned obsolescence. Why should users rewrite code if
> their life is not getting better?

> The risk, by the way, is simply that they will stick with old versions of
> the projects for quite a while.

> Gaël

> PS: I am all in favor of Python, and all my code is Python-3 compatible.

FWIW -- I fully agree with Gael ( finally! ;) )

moreover -- if "everyone switch to Python 3!" would be the banner to go
with -- what should be the minimal 3.x version, and how fast should we
drop it in favor of some fancy new features of 3.x+1 ?

I would say I switch whenever I see that current feature set and
codebase stable enough so I could reasonably well maintain it without
major effort through a few more years, while indeed providing some new
features exclusively for python 3 users.  I think I would try to avoid
switching entire project to python 3 (i.e. placing previous version
completely into maintenance mode), but rather add more carrots to it to
enjoy if using with Python 3.

-- 
Yaroslav O. Halchenko
Center for Open Neuroscience     http://centerforopenneuroscience.org
Dartmouth College, 419 Moore Hall, Hinman Box 6207, Hanover, NH 03755
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