making python scripts backwards compatible

[J.Jacob]

I would like to make a request.

Today I spent again some time converting python code.  It
was in the SimpleXMLRPCServer.py file.  I wanted to use it
remotely on another computer but it gave errors because of
list comprehension and using the "".method() syntax
instead of importing string.  The reason was that other
computer was still running python 1.5.2.  I could not
upgrade the remote computer (no root access) and even if i
could the problem would come up soon again when the
(mobile agent-)program relocated.

So the request is this: 

If you write code that could be used by people or systems
based on python 1.5.2 please make sure your code is
backwards compatible to 1.5.2.  If that is too much work,
please mention the python version you need to use it
somewhere in the top of your source.  Especially for
networking software.

<rant>
At least until Red Hat upgrades their @#$%^&! default python
installation on all those computers that are going to run
their OS.  Every brand new computer today that is having
even the latest Red Hat installed can hit you with problems
like this!  How many would there be?

Maybe I should start a petition website for Red Hat python.
Maybe i could write a module that makes a python script
backwards compatible.  Hmm.  Let me first try to keep using
python at my job.

Oh, I love the new additions and improvements in python 2.2.
Wish I could use it all.  Stuck.

Did a google for "1.5.2" on c.l.p, sort by date.  There is
a posting from nearly every day.
</rant>


So-many-things-to-do--so-little-time-'ly-yrs