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HN · PythonCurated

Python 2.6 prepares the transition to Python 3

Summary

Python 2.6 combines new language features with warnings and aids for the upcoming migration to Python 3. Python 2.6 was released on 1 October 2008. The version contained numerous preparations for Python 3.

Ideas

  • New syntax adopts selected features from Python 3.
  • Migration warnings mark source code whose behaviour will change.
  • with statements simplify the reliable release of resources.
  • New library modules modernise JSON, multiprocessing and data processing.
  • Bytearray adds mutable sequences of binary data.
  • Documented changes allow a gradual rather than abrupt migration.

Insights

  • Transition versions make an incompatible future plannable.
  • Warnings only have an effect if projects evaluate them regularly.
  • Library compatibility determines the pace of migration more than new syntax.
  • Resource management becomes more robust when the language makes safe patterns easy.

Facts

  • The command line flag -3 enabled additional migration warnings.
  • Python 2.6 later only received security fixes.

Recommendations

  • Enable migration warnings in continuous integration.
  • Eliminate warnings before switching to a new major version.
  • Document dependencies that still require Python 2.

References

Read the original article

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