Re: [gentoo-dev] [RFC] Proposed dates for Python 3.10 switch and Python 3.8 removal

[Sam James]

[Resending due to mail client nonsense...]

> On 11 Nov 2021, at 18:44, Patrick McLean <chutzpah@g.o> wrote:
> On Thu, 11 Nov 2021 09:55:48 -0800
> Patrick McLean <chutzpah@g.o <mailto:chutzpah@g.o>> wrote:
>> On Thu, 11 Nov 2021 17:05:45 +0100
>> Michał Górny <mgorny@g.o> wrote:
>>> I'd like to add some dates regarding 3.8 removal and 3.10 switch to
>>> the implementation timeline [1].
>>>
>>> Unless I'm mistaken, CPython is following a yearly release cycle these
>>> days.  I think it would make sense to also aim for a yearly cycle
>>> in Gentoo, i.e. roughly switch to the next minor version every year.
>>>
>>> Hence my proposal would be to:
>>>
>>> a. ASAP: send "please port your packages to py3.9" mail
>>>
>>> b. 2022-06-01: remove py3.8 target
>>
>> Could we please push this back, I would prefer some time in 2023 if
>> possible.
> To clarify, I am just asking for it to be pushed back to the start of
> 2023, not June 2023. 2023-01-01 would be fine.


I think this is fair but if you do need something for work, please say that
so we don't need to guess / think it might be for your personal capacity.

I also think it's probably worthwhile to offer upfront help if needed if you
can, especially if it is for that purpose.

That said, I agree!

I think we need to push it back a little bit to ease upgrades (see
the recent thread) but also to help downstreams like Flatcar OS
which are still migrating away from Python 3.8.

I don't mind chipping in to help.

[There is a separate issue with stabilising the Python 3.10
interpreter. I'd like this done as soon as it's ready (and it works
fine here), but there's a problem with circular dependencies
and python-any-r1 dragging it in on upgrades and causing issues with libxcrypt.]

Best,
sam