Arch Linux

xyproto

Package Maintainer (PM)

From: Oslo

Registered: 2011-01-11

Posts: 43

Website

Python 2 vs python 3 for programs that are written for python 2

Hi,

There is a package in AUR that goes through quite a bit of effort to port a program from python 2 to python 3, because "python 3 is the default version in Arch".
This involves patches to "upgrade" the program to python 3, since it was not written for python 3 in the first place.

As I understand, python 3 really is the default version on Arch, but there's also a policy of sending patches upstream, if possible.

Should the desire to make everything run on python 3 weigh heavier than the desire to keep packages free of patches, or not?

Here is the package in question:
deheader: http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=44074

Thanks.

eldragon

Member

From: Buenos Aires

Registered: 2008-11-18

Posts: 1,029

Re: Python 2 vs python 3 for programs that are written for python 2

chicken or egg?

imho, if the package can be made to run on python3, that should be the default. having it being able to run on python2 as an added extra is a plus for a smooth transition for other distributions.

xyproto

Package Maintainer (PM)

From: Oslo

Registered: 2011-01-11

Posts: 43

Website

Re: Python 2 vs python 3 for programs that are written for python 2

But what if the port to python3 is bugprone? Same answer?

ngoonee

Forum Fellow

From: Between Thailand and Singapore

Registered: 2009-03-17

Posts: 7,360

Re: Python 2 vs python 3 for programs that are written for python 2

python3 patches should be pushed upstream. And the 'minimal patches' guideline applies to official Arch packages, most AUR packages (AFAICT) are created to apply some patch or other.

In the case of the package you describe, it'd be easier to just make it depend on python2 while the python3 patches are sent upstream. A few sed lines.

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