[Numpy-discussion] Proposal of timeline for dropping Python 2.7 support

[Charles R Harris]

Hi All,

Thought I'd toss this out there. I'm tending towards better sooner than
later in dropping Python 2.7 support as we are starting to run up against
places where we would like to use Python 3 features. That is particularly
true on Windows where the 2.7 compiler is really old and lacks C99
compatibility. In any case, the timeline I've been playing with is to keep
Python 2.7 support through 2018, which given our current pace, would be for
NumPy 1.15 and 1.16. After that 1.16 would become a long term support
release with backports of critical bug fixes up until the time that Python
2.7 support officially ends. In that timeline, NumPy 1.17 would drop
support for 2.7. That proposed schedule is subject to change pending
developments and feed back.

The main task I think is needed before dropping 2.7 is better handling of
unicode strings and bytes. There is the #4208
<https://github.com/numpy/numpy/pull/4208> PR that makes a start on that.
If there are other things that folks think are essential, please mention
them here. If nothing else, we can begin planning for the transition even
if the schedule changes.

Chuck
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