[Python-Dev] Python 3 as a Default in Linux Distros

[Laurent Gautier]

On 07/25/2013 01:19 PM, Lennart Regebro wrote:
> On Thu, Jul 25, 2013 at 12:41 PM, Laurent Gautier <lgautier at gmail.com> wrote:
>> - a user is running a python script (he expects to be working), and is using
>> the default /usr/bin/python (formerly Python 2, now Python 3). If the
>> program fails because of obvious Python 2-only idioms, reporting this rather
>> that the SyntaxError is much less confusing.
> 2to3 will not report this.

My meaning was the use of 2to3's machinery (and fire a message if a 
translation occurs) not 2to3 itself, obviously.

>   It will get rid of the SyntaxError (which
> at least is fairly clear) and give you a completely different and even
> more obscure error. You have replaced a somewhat unclear error with a
> very unclear error.
>
> If we want to report a problem, then /usr/bin/python should just
> report that you should use /usr/bin/python2 or /usr/bin/python3.
>
> That's clear.
>
> //Lennart