Blog: Python Language Upgrade Slithers Toward Final Release

Python Language Upgrade Slithers Toward Final Release
InfoWorld (06/11/10) Krill, Paul

Developers of Python 2.7 offered a release candidate for the last upgrade in the legacy 2.x dynamic language line earlier in June, and plan to make a finished version available July 3, says Python Software Foundation chairman Steve Holden. "We anticipate a long period of end-of-life support--most likely at least five years but certainly beyond the normal two years," he says. Many Python programmers have already moved to the 3.x line because developers wanted to make some dramatic changes to the language while still maintaining its essence. "A number of 3.1 features have been back-ported [to Python 2.7], including set literals, dictionary, and set comprehensions--an easy way of programmatically generating data--and the new 'io' module," Holden says. The 3.x line is not compatible with the 2.x line, but its features will help ease the migration when the time comes to move to the upgrade. Developers are working on Python 3.2, which will include a rewrite of the Global Interpreter Lock to ensure thread consistency, with a final release expected in December.

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