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

[Terry Reedy]

On 1/10/2010 8:44 PM, Neil Schemenauer wrote:
> On Sun, Jan 10, 2010 at 12:09:08PM -0800, Brett Cannon wrote:
>> I don't think ending the 2.x series at 2.7 makes it look bad
>> compared to 3.2; it's simply the end of a development line like
>> any other software project. I suspect 2.7 will have a protracted
>> bugfix window because so much code runs on 2.x exclusively at the
>> moment.
>
> I would guess over 99% of all Python code written doesn't run on
> Python 3.

If the removal of old features had been done in the 2.x series, as once 
planned (Guido originally proposed removing the old meaning of int / int 
in 2.5) the same more or less would be true of 2.7. It is past time for 
other old and now duplicated features to be removed also.

   Given that, I think it is premature to close the door on
> new major versions of Python 2.x. Also, we as a project should be
> careful not to present the image that Python 2.x will not be
> supported in the future.
>
>> If there really is an outcry on this we can re-visit the issue,
>> but as of right now we need to move forward at some point and 2.7
>> seems like that good point.
>
> I think that's bad PR.  If I had a successful product, I would not
> announce its end of life just to see how many customers scream and
> then decide if I should devote more resources to continue
> maintaining it.

Python is not being ended, but upgraded (with bloating duplications 
removed). Think of 3.1 as 2.8 with a new name.

tjr