[Python-Dev] Python 3.4 and Windows XP: just 45 days until EOL

[Christian Heimes]

Hi,

how do you feel about dropping Windows XP support for Python 3.4? It
would enable us to use some features that are only available on Windows
Vista and newer, for example http://bugs.python.org/issue6926 and
http://bugs.python.org/issue1763 .

PEP 11 says:
  A new feature release X.Y.0 will support all Windows releases
  whose extended support phase is not yet expired.

For Python 3.4 is going to be a very close call. According to PEP 429
3.4.0 final is scheduled for February 22, 2014. The extended support
phase of Windows XP ends merely 45 days later on April 8, 2014. Do we
really have to restrict ourselves to an API that is going to become
deprecated 45 days after the estimated release of 3.4.0?

Christian