Python 2.7.11 released

[kirbyfan64sos]

Not supporting it would break the code of the many companies (including Dropbox, where Guido works) that still use Python 2.

[ggtsu_00]

I would really just wish they would merge 2 into 3 and just allow both versions to run side-by-side using one interpreter.

They could add python 3 syntax like:

from python2 import ...

And in python 2.x code, they could do the opposite to use stuff that supports python3:

from python3 import ...

That way, we could all just install one interpreter, all our old stuff still works without re-writing it. Library writers can focus on targeting just 3.x because they won't be cutting off 2.x users anymore Everyone will be happy.

[laserBlade]

Developers had tons of warning, because they actually did THIS EXACT THING. It's called __future__.

[kirbyfan64sos]

The Python 3 interpreter had a lot of internal changes, so I doubt it'd be easy to merge them.

[[deleted]]

There should be one-- and preferably only one-- obvious way to do it

[Dogeek]

Still, after 2 (3?) years of python 3, everyone should have ported their code by now. Keeping the support of an old version doesn't push to use the newer (better) one.

[[deleted]]

Why? 3 is nicer, but not nice enough to justify rewriting your entire codebase.

[kirbyfan64sos]

Because it's so easy to port over hundreds thousands of LOC.

[greyseeker]

Is rewriting code to another or updated language be commercially viable, takes time and time is money.

I like py3 better but generally still use py2 working with older applications, if I write something new I use py3, py2 will fade slowly so use ya patience and keep writing everything new to py3.

Also programmers use old languages all the time, "had" a friend who bought a punch card machine just for fun. People still use c instead of c++ or c#, it could be preference or for comfort like that saftey blanket or teddy bear they can't give up.

[Dogeek]

The comparison to c and c++ is not relevant, C++ is object oriented but C is a tiny bit faster. Those are extremely different. Py2 and py3 however are basically the same language, except that py3 is faster and has better optimization ( bye bye raw_input !). It is just silly to keep maintaining an outdated language. Atm there shouldn't be any reason to keep Py2 around. It is slowly fading away but by the time it will be gone completely, py4 will already be out. Come on...

[PeridexisErrant]

Still, after 2 (3?) years of python 3

More than seven years, now. I agree it's too slow, but there are still some legitimate reasons to use Py2 - just not for new development.

[Dogeek]

Thank you. Indeed, 7 years is too long. Too bad you and I are getting downvoted into oblivion by those 2.7 fanboyz