[Python-Dev] [RELEASED] Python 2.7 alpha 2

[Neil Schemenauer]

Benjamin Peterson <benjamin at python.org> wrote:
> On behalf of the Python development team, I'm gleeful to announce
> the second alpha release of Python 2.7.

Thanks to everyone who contributed.

> Python 2.7 is scheduled to be the last major version in the 2.x
> series.

Has this really been decided already? Maybe I missed it.  In my
opinion, it does Python's reputation harm to make such a statement.
Conservative users (probably the vast majority of Python users)
don't like to hear that software they are considering using is
nearing the end of its life.  What does it gain us to announce that
the 2.x branch is dead aside from bugfixes?

I propose that the 2.x branch be treated like 2.x.y branches: as
long as there is sufficient volunteer labour, it should continue to
live.  In order to avoid wasted development effort, it would be
prudent to announce that unless a 2.8 release manager steps up,
whatever is committed to the 2.x branch after the 2.7 release may
never get released.

Said another way, it's okay for the Python developers to decide to
abandon 2.x and put their efforts into 3.x. It's not okay for them
to prevent others from continuing to work on 2.x or to somehow make
2.x look worse so 3.x looks better. Python 3 needs to stand on its
own terms and I'm confident it can.

Best regards,

  Neil