[Python-Dev] Draft: 2.3 download page

[Alex Martelli]

On Sunday 27 July 2003 06:09 pm, Barry Warsaw 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.
>
> If I read this, I probably wouldn't touch Python 2.3 final with a 10
> foot rigid boa.  Why is it not sufficient to say, on index.html:
>
> <b>Please note: running the new IDLE in Python 2.3 may produce spurious
> warnings from personal firewall software on some Windows machines.
> Please see <a href="bugs.html">the known bugs list</a> for more
> information.</b>

+1

> Then on bugs.html, we provide more information, such as describing
> exactly what idle is doing without any fear mongering.  Include a
> promise that we'll fix this for Python 2.3.1.  People can then make up
> their own minds on whether they care enough, but at least we've informed
> them as best as possible before the fact.  It doesn't sound to me like
> there are any problems preventing people from enjoying Python and idle
> on Windows right now, just that they'll get some confusing unexpected
> warnings.

Depends on their PFW if any -- how programmable it is, how programmed,
how buggy.  I do remember we advised people to turn anti-virus software
entirely before running Python's installer on Windows (do we still do so?  I 
don't recall, probably yes); the IDLE-vs-PFW clash is lesser (no need to turn 
the PFW off entirely, just make sure it does let connections to 127.0.0.1 
work, one way or another) even though it will recur every time IDLE is 
started (and if we didn't document it clearly it might LOOK to the average 
uninitiated paranoid like we're trying to pull a fast one).


Alex