[Python-Dev] Re: Stability and change (original) (raw)

Barry A. Warsaw barry@zope.com
Mon, 8 Apr 2002 17:58:27 -0400

"SM" == Skip Montanaro <skip@pobox.com> writes:

BAW> Okay, so now I tell have to tell people that it works with
BAW> any version between 2.4.3 and 2.6.9, not including any 2.5.x
BAW> release.

SM> Over time people should become aware that odd-numbered minor
SM> releases are always development releases and are not to be
SM> relied upon.  Sure, you can't say it works for 2.4.3 through
SM> 2.6.9 but you can say

SM>     It works for 2.4.x for x >= 3 and for 2.6.x for x <= 9.

SM> And during the initial three years of turmoil after a change
SM> to such a dual branch structure is made you'd probably be wise
SM> to add

SM>     No support for any development branch releases
SM> (e.g. 2.N.x, where N is odd) is implied.

IMHO it will still confuse a lot of people. I don't think it's the same as the Linux kernel because I suspect that people upgrade their kernels a /lot/ less often then they'll upgrade their Python version.

-Barry