python-peps/pep-0361.txt

PEP: 361
Title: Python 2.6 and 3.0 Release Schedule
Version: $Revision$
Last-Modified: $Date$
Author: Neal Norwitz, Barry Warsaw
Status: Draft
Type: Informational
Created: 29-June-2006
Python-Version: 2.6
Python-Version: 3.0
Post-History: 17-Mar-2008

Abstract

    This document describes the development and release schedule for
    Python 2.6 and 3.0.  The schedule primarily concerns itself with
    PEP-sized items.  Small features may be added up to and including
    the first beta release.  Bugs may be fixed until the final
    release.

    There will be at least two alpha releases, two beta releases, and
    one release candidate.  The release date is planned for the
    beginning of September, 2008.

    Python 2.6 is not only the next advancement in the Python 2
    series, it is also a transitional release, helping developers
    begin to prepare their code for Python 3.0.  As such, many
    features are being backported from Python 3.0 to 2.6.  Thus, it
    makes sense to release both versions in at the same time.  The
    precedence for this was set with the Python 1.6 and 2.0 release.

    We will be releasing Python 2.6 and 3.0 in lockstep, on a monthly
    release cycle.  The releases will happen on the first Wednesday of
    every month through the beta testing cycle.  There will be two
    weeks between release candidates.  The final releases of Python
    2.6 and 3.0 will happen in lockstep.


Release Manager and Crew

    2.6/3.0 Release Manager: Barry Warsaw
    Windows installers: Martin v. Loewis
    Mac installers: Ronald Oussoren
    Documentation: Georg Brandl
    RPMs: Sean Reifschneider


Release Schedule

    Note that this schedule is completely tentative. The number of alphas,
    betas and release candidates will be determined as the release process
    unfolds.  The minimal schedule is:

        Feb 29 2008: Python 2.6a1 and 3.0a3 are released
        Apr 02 2008: Python 2.6a2 and 3.0a4 planned
        May 07 2008: Python 2.6a3 and 3.0a5 planned
        Jun 04 2008: Python 2.6b1 and 3.0b1 planned
        Jul 02 2008: Python 2.6b2 and 3.0b2 planned
        Aug 06 2008: Python 2.6rc1 and 3.0rc1 planned
        Aug 20 2008: Python 2.6rc2 and 3.0rc2 planned
        Sep 03 2008: Python 2.6 and 3.0 final


Completed features for 3.0

    See PEP 3000 [#pep3000] and PEP 3100 [#pep3100] for details on the
    Python 3.0 project.


Completed features for 2.6

    PEPs:

        352: Raising a string exception now triggers a TypeError.
             Attempting to catch a string exception raises DeprecationWarning.
             BaseException.message has been deprecated.

    New modules in the standard library:

        None

    Deprecated modules and functions in the standard library:

        - buildtools
        - cfmfile
        - commands.getstatus()
        - macostools.touched()
        - md5
        - MimeWriter
        - mimify
        - popen2, os.popen[234]()
        - posixfile
        - sets
        - sha

    Modules removed from the standard library:

        - gopherlib
        - rgbimg
        - macfs

    Python 3.0 compatability:

        - warnings were added for the following builtins
          which no longer exist in 3.0:

             apply, callable, coerce, dict.has_key, execfile, reduce, reload

    Other major features:

      - with/as will be keywords
      - a __dir__() special method to control dir() was added [1]
      - AtheOS support stopped.


Possible features for 2.6

    New features *should* be implemented prior to alpha2, particularly
    any C modifications or behavioral changes.  New features *must* be
    implemented prior to beta1 or will require Release Manager approval.

    The following PEPs are being worked on for possible inclusion in 2.6:

        - PEP 297:  Support for System Upgrades [#pep297]
        - PEP 358:  The "bytes" Object [#pep358]
        - PEP 367:  New Super [#pep367]
        - PEP 3112:  Bytes literals in Python 3000 [#pep3112]
        - PEP 3127:  Integer Literal Support and Syntax [#pep3127]

    Each non-trivial feature listed here that is not a PEP must be 
    discussed on python-dev.  Other enhancements include:

        - distutils replacement (requires a PEP)
        - turtle.py replacement or enhancements

    New modules in the standard library:

        - winerror
          http://python.org/sf/1505257
          (Owner: MAL)

        - JSON implementation

        - setuptools
          BDFL pronouncement for inclusion in 2.5:
          http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2006-April/063964.html

          PJE's withdrawal from 2.5 for inclusion in 2.6:
          http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2006-April/064145.html

    Modules to gain a DeprecationWarning (as specified for Python 2.6
    or through negligence):

        - rfc822
        - mimetools
        - multifile
        - compiler package (or a Py3K warning instead?)

    - warnings module implemented in C
      * Convert Parser/*.c to use warnings module rather than printf

    - Add warnings for Py3k features removed:
      * backticks and <>
      * __getslice__/__setslice__/__delslice__
      * float args to PyArgs_ParseTuple
      * float args to xrange
      * coerce and all its friends
      * comparing by default comparison
      * __cmp__?
      * other comparison changes?
      * int division?
      * {}.has_key()
      * All PendingDeprecationWarnings (e.g. exceptions)
      * using zip() result as a list
      * the exec statement (use function syntax)
      * file.xreadlines
      * function attributes that start with func_* (should use __*__)
      * softspace removal for print() function
      * the L suffix for long literals
      * removal of modules because of PEP 4/3100/3108
      * renaming of __nonzero__ to __bool__
      * multiple inheritance with classic classes? (MRO might change)
      * properties and classic classes? (instance attrs shadow property)

    - use __bool__ method if available and there's no __nonzero__

    - Check the various bits of code in Demo/ and Tools/ all still work,
      update or remove the ones that don't.

    - All modules in Modules/ should be updated to be ssize_t clean.

    - All of Python (including Modules/) should compile cleanly with g++

    - Start removing deprecated features and generally moving towards Py3k

    - Replace all old style tests (operate on import) with unittest or docttest

    - Add tests for all untested modules

    - Document undocumented modules/features

    - bdist_deb in distutils package
      http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2006-February/060926.html

    - bdist_egg in distutils package

    - pure python pgen module
      (Owner: Guido)
      Deferral to 2.6:
      http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2006-April/064528.html

    - Remove the fpectl module?


Deferred until 2.7

    None


Open issues

    How should import warnings be handled?
    http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2006-June/066345.html
    http://python.org/sf/1515609
    http://python.org/sf/1515361

    How should -m (__main__ in general) work with relative imports? [#pep366]_


References

.. [1] Adding a __dir__() magic method
   http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2006-July/067139.html

.. [#pep358] PEP 358 (The "bytes" Object)
   http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0358

.. [#pep366] PEP 366 (Main module explicit relative imports)
   http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0366

.. [#pep367] PEP 367 (New Super)
   http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0367

.. [#pep3000] PEP 3000 (Python 3000)
   http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-3000

.. [#pep3100] PEP 3100 (Miscellaneous Python 3.0 Plans)
   http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-3100

.. [#pep3112] PEP 3112 (Bytes literals in Python 3000)
   http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-03112

.. [#pep3127] PEP 3127 (Integer Literal Support and Syntax)
   http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-03127


Copyright

    This document has been placed in the public domain.



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