[Python-Dev] Re: Stability and change

[Barry A. Warsaw]

>>>>> "SM" == Skip Montanaro <skip@pobox.com> writes:

    BAW> Okay, so now I tell have to tell people that it works with
    BAW> any version between 2.4.3 and 2.6.9, not including any 2.5.x
    BAW> release.

    SM> Over time people should become aware that odd-numbered minor
    SM> releases are always development releases and are not to be
    SM> relied upon.  Sure, you can't say it works for 2.4.3 through
    SM> 2.6.9 but you can say

    SM>     It works for 2.4.x for x >= 3 and for 2.6.x for x <= 9.

    SM> And during the initial three years of turmoil after a change
    SM> to such a dual branch structure is made you'd probably be wise
    SM> to add

    SM>     No support for any development branch releases
    SM> (e.g. 2.N.x, where N is odd) is implied.

IMHO it will still confuse a lot of people.  I don't think it's the
same as the Linux kernel because I suspect that people upgrade their
kernels a /lot/ less often then they'll upgrade their Python version.

-Barry