[Python-ideas] Is it Python 3 yet?

[Paul Moore]

On 26 January 2017 at 22:32, M.-A. Lemburg <mal at egenix.com> wrote:
> On 26.01.2017 23:09, Random832 wrote:
>> On Thu, Jan 26, 2017, at 11:21, Paul Moore wrote:
>>> On a similar note, I always get caught out by the fact that the
>>> Windows default download is the 32-bit version. Are we not yet at a
>>> point where a sufficient majority of users have 64-bit machines, and
>>> 32-bit should be seen as a "specialist" choice?
>>
>> I'm actually surprised it doesn't detect it, especially since it does
>> detect Windows.
>>
>> (I bet fewer people have supported 32-bit windows versions than have
>> Windows XP.)
>
> I think you have to differentiate a bit more between having a
> 64-bit OS and running 64-bit applications.
>
> Many applications on Windows are still 32-bit applications and
> unless you process large amounts of data, a 32-bit Python
> system is well worth using. In some cases, it's even needed,
> e.g. if you have to use an extension which links to a 32-bit
> library.

I agree that there are use cases for a 32-bit Python. But for the
*average* user, I'd argue in favour of a 64-bit build as the default
download.

Paul