[Python-Dev] 2.7 Release? 2.7 == last of the 2.x line?

[Mark Summerfield]

Hi,

I wanted to make some brief comments on this thread:

- 2to3 encourages people to see Python 3 as exotic and other---and not
  to actually write in it.

- 3to2 encourages people to use Python 3 and also provides a route to
  Python 2 compatibility.

I hope that a point will be reached where people are encouraged to do a
one off 2to3, hand fix, and once it passes their tests to keep a single
Python 3 source and use 3to2 to support their users of older Pythons.

- Unicode strings is the solution, not the problem, and is one of Python
  3's most important advances.

- Have any big ports been done? Yes, PyQt4.
  PyQt4 supports both Python 2 and Python 3---and the port was done by
  one person in his "spare" time over a period of months. PyQt4 wraps at
  least 700,000 lines of C++ code---and it isn't just GUI stuff, it has
  networking, threading, etc., and works on Linux, Mac, Windows, etc.

- I do hope NumPy gets ported, since both on and off the lists it seems
  like a show-stopper for many people.

- I hope the "ditch 3" calls are ignored. Python 3 is significantly
  better than (an already excellent) Python 2: eventually people will
  port---or those who start out with Python 3 will build their own
  libraries for what's missing, just as people did when Python 2 came
  out.

- I think the developers have done a fantastic job with Python 3.
  I just wish more people realised how good it is!

Regarding the Moratorium:

+inf

since I'd really love to see more time devoted to improving the standard
library.

My 2c:-)

-- 
Mark Summerfield, Qtrac Ltd, www.qtrac.eu
    C++, Python, Qt, PyQt - training and consultancy
        "Advanced Qt Programming" - ISBN 0321635906