[Python-Dev] Draft: 2.3 download page

[Alex Martelli]

On Sunday 27 July 2003 15:07, Aahz wrote:
   ...
> problems if you run into them.  We plan to release Python 2.3.1 within a
> month.  We recommend downloading and using Python 2.3, but waiting for
> 2.3.1 if you're new to Python and plan to use IDLE or if you're using
> Python in a mission-critical application.

I think this is too strongly worded, and will keep people away from 2.3 who 
would be quite happy with it.  I would rephrase the last sentence as:

"""
We recommend downloading and using Python 2.3, but you may want to wait for
2.3.1 if you're new to Python and plan to use IDLE on Windows machines with 
easily mis-triggered "personal firewalls", or if you're using Python in a 
mission-critical application.
"""

BTW, the original problem with that Italian user also turned out to be a 
"personal firewall" bug.  He had programmed his PFW to *not give warnings* 
(about attempted connections) when his remote connection to the net was 
off; the PFW erroneously *made all attempted connections fail* in this case 
(rather than letting ones to 127.0.0.1 succeed).  When the remote 
connection was on, the PFW was using a different set of rules (which 
correctly included giving no warnings, and silently succeeding, for 
attempted connections to 127.0.0.1).  He has now worked around his PFW's 
bug as well as let its producers know about it.

But basically, to this point, it does seem that problems only occur for
people using IDLE 1.0 on Windows machines *with easily mis-triggered 
personal firewalls*, so I see no need to issue a much broader, 
threatening-sounding warning that might turn off people who'd be quite 
happy using 2.3 as it stands.


Alex