[Python-Dev] Python Library Support in 3.x (Was: email package status in 3.X)

[Steve Holden]

Stephen Thorne wrote:
> On 2010-06-19, Arc Riley wrote:
>> You mean Twisted support,
> 
> No. I don't.
> 
> Often, on #python, we get the situation where someone approaches us saying, "I
> have this problem in my python code, why does this not work for me?" and
> usually very quickly we establish the programmer has followed a tutorial or
> attempted to use a library that depends on python 2, but the programmer is
> running python 3.
> 
> Queried on why they are using python 3, the answer is frequently, "Because I
> downloaded the latest version."
> 
> For those people, we believe it is too early to use python 3. When talking to
> these people with a world view of "why shouldn't i use the latest version"
> having a concrete preexisting statement in the topic we can point to is
> invaluable.
> 
> We don't always ask those who are having python 3 problems to go to python2.
> Often we simply explain about all strings bring unicode or print now being a
> function, and the conversation dies.
> 
> There are also programmers who definately should be using python 3 for their
> work. They know who they are. They do receive support in #python.
> 
> --
> 
> In writing this email to python-dev, I have reviewed my logs of #python
> specifically looking for the phrase 'python 3'. Here are some packages that
> were named in the conversations:
> 
>  - py2exe
>  - cx_Freeze
>  - twisted 
>  - PIL
>  - ctypes
>  - email
> 
> I present this list because they are what programmers are coming to #python to
> ask about, and that may be relevent to your discussion about python 3 ports.
> 
Given the amount of interest this thread has generated I can't help
wondering why it isn't more prominent in python.org content. Is the
developer community completely disjoint with the web content editor
community?

If there is such a disconnect we should think about remedying it: a
large "Python 2 or 3?" button could link to a reasoned discussion of the
pros and cons as evinced in this thread. That way people will end up
with the right version more often (and be writing Python 2 that will
more easily migrate to Python 3, if they cannot yet use 3).

There seems to be a perception that the PSF can help fund developments,
and indeed Jesse Noller has made a small start with his sprint funding
proposal (which now has some funding behind it). I think if it is to do
so the Foundation will have to look for substantial new funding. I do
not currently understand where this funding would come from, and would
like to tap your developer creativity in helping to define how the
Foundation can effectively commit more developer time to Python.

GSoC and GHOP are great examples, but there is plenty of room for all
sorts of initiatives that result in development opportunities. I'd like
to help.

regards
 Steve
-- 
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