Add PEP 401: BDFL retirement.

pep-0401.txt

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+PEP: 401
+Title: BDFL Retirement
+Version: $Revision$
+Last-Modified: $Date: 2009-04-01 00:00:00 -0400 (Wed, 1 Apr 2009)$
+Author: Barry Warsaw, Brett Cannon
+Status: Accepted
+Type: Process
+Content-Type: text/x-rst
+Created: 01-Apr-2009
+Post-History: 01-Apr-2009
+
+
+Abstract
+========
+
+The BDFL, having shepherded Python development for 20 years,
+officially announces his retirement, effective immediately.  Following
+a unanimous vote, his replacement is named.
+
+
+Rationale
+=========
+
+Guido wrote the original implementation of Python in 1989, and after
+nearly 20 years of leading the community, has decided to step aside as
+its Benevolent Dictator For Life.  His official title is now
+Benevolent Dictator Emeritus Vacationing Indefinitely from the
+Language (BDEVIL).  Guido leaves Python in the good hands of its new
+leader and its vibrant community, in order to train for his lifelong
+dream of climbing Mount Everest.
+
+After unanimous vote of the Python Steering Union (not to be confused
+with the Python Secret Underground, which emphatically does not exist)
+at the 2009 Python Conference (PyCon_ 2009), Guido's successor has been
+chosen: Barry Warsaw, or as he is affectionately known, Uncle Barry.
+Uncle Barry's official title is Friendly Language Uncle For Life (FLUFL).
+
+.. _PyCon: http://us.pycon.org/
+
+
+Official Acts of the FLUFL
+==========================
+
+FLUFL Uncle Barry enacts the following decisions, in order to
+demonstrate his intention to lead the community in the same
+responsible and open manner as his predecessor, whose name escapes
+him:
+
+* Recognized that the selection of ``Hg`` as the DVCS of choice was
+  clear proof of the onset of the BDEVIL's insanity, and reverting
+  this decision to switch to ``Bzr`` instead, the only true choice.
+
+* Recognized that the ``!=`` inequality operator in Python 3.0 was a
+  horrible, finger pain inducing mistake, the FLUFL reinstates the
+  ``<>`` diamond operator as the sole spelling.  This change is
+  important enough to be implemented for, and released in Python
+  3.1. To help transition to this feature, a new future statement,
+  ``from __future__ import barry_as_flufl`` has been added.
+
+* Recognized that the ``print`` function in Python 3.0 was a horrible,
+  pain-inducing mistake, the FLUFL reinstates the ``print``
+  statement.  This change is important enough to be implemented for,
+  and released in Python 3.0.2.
+
+* Recognized that the disappointing adoption curve of Python 3.0
+  signals its abject failure, all work on Python 3.1 and subsequent
+  Python 3.x versions is hereby terminated.  All features in Python
+  3.0 shall be back ported to Python 2.7 which will be the official
+  and sole next release.  The Python 3.0 string and bytes types will
+  be back ported to Python 2.6.2 for the convenience of developers.
+
+* Recognized that C is a 20th century language with almost universal
+  rejection by programmers under the age of 30, the CPython
+  implementation will terminate with the release of Python 2.6.2 and
+  3.0.2.  Thereafter, the reference implementation of Python will
+  target the Parrot [1]_ virtual machine.  Alternative implementations
+  of Python (e.g. Jython [2]_ and IronPython [3]_) are officially
+  discouraged but tolerated.
+
+* Recognized that the Python Software Foundation [4]_ having fulfilled
+  its mission admirably, is hereby disbanded.  They Python Steering
+  Union [5]_ (not to be confused with the Python Secret Underground,
+  which emphatically does not exist), is now the sole steward for all
+  of Python's intellectual property.  All PSF funds are hereby
+  transferred to the PSU (not that PSU, the other PSU).
+
+
+References
+==========
+
+.. [1] http://www.parrot.org
+
+.. [2] http://www.jython.org
+
+.. [3] http://www.ironpython.com
+
+.. [4] http://www.python.org/psf
+
+.. [5] http://www.pythonlabs.com
+
+
+Copyright
+=========
+
+This document is the property of the Python Steering Union (not to be
+confused with the Python Secret Underground, which emphatically does
+not exist).  We suppose it's okay for you to read this, but don't even
+think about quoting, copying, modifying, or distributing it.
+
+
+..
+  Local Variables:
+  mode: indented-text
+  indent-tabs-mode: nil
+  sentence-end-double-space: t
+  fill-column: 70
+  coding: utf-8
+  End: