Is there official guide for Python 3.x release lifecycle?
Question:
I just noticed Python 3.2 was removed from the drop down selector in Python Docs. I have a framework using Python 3.3, so I’d like to know when it’ll share the same fate, and move to a newer version before this happens.
Is there an official guide on how long Python 3.x gets support, backports, etc.? I couldn’t find any information about Python release lifecycle on Python’s home page or via search engines.
Answers:
Each Python release gets a Release Schedule PEP which includes information about the planned lifespan. For 3.3: https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0398/#id11
Yes, you could look at the table in the Pythons Developer Guide for most releases. Specifically Python 3.3 will have security fixes until 2017-09-29.
Additionally, appropriate PEPs exist (google-able or from the devguide table) for each branch where a lifespan section specifies these. For 3.3 in PEP 398:
3.3 will receive bugfix updates approximately every 4-6 months for approximately 18 months. After the release of 3.4.0 final, a final 3.3 bugfix update will be released. After that, security updates (source only) will be released until 5 years after the release of 3.3 final, which will be September 2017.
For the rest of the actively maintained Pythons, the PEPs are:
See the Lifespan and Schedule sections for details on these.
Updated schedule (as of August 2022):
- Python 3.4: reached End Of Life
- Python 3.5: reached End Of Life
- Python 3.6: reached End Of Life
- Python 3.7: security fixes only, no
bug fixes will be provided; End Of Life: 2023-06-27
- Python 3.8: security fixes only, no
bug fixes will be provided; End Of Life: 2024-10
- Python 3.9: security fixes only, no
bug fixes will be provided; End Of Life: 2025-10
- Python 3.10: security fixes AND bug fixes will be provided; End Of Life: 2026-10
- Python 3.11: security fixes AND bug fixes will be provided; End Of Life: 2027-10
Source: https://devguide.python.org/#status-of-python-branches
Also notice that Python release cycle has changed to 12 months since Python 3.9. See PEP-602 for more details. It used to be 18 months for Python 3.8 and prior releases. This means we should see Python 3.9 before end of year 2020!
I just noticed Python 3.2 was removed from the drop down selector in Python Docs. I have a framework using Python 3.3, so I’d like to know when it’ll share the same fate, and move to a newer version before this happens.
Is there an official guide on how long Python 3.x gets support, backports, etc.? I couldn’t find any information about Python release lifecycle on Python’s home page or via search engines.
Each Python release gets a Release Schedule PEP which includes information about the planned lifespan. For 3.3: https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0398/#id11
Yes, you could look at the table in the Pythons Developer Guide for most releases. Specifically Python 3.3 will have security fixes until 2017-09-29.
Additionally, appropriate PEPs exist (google-able or from the devguide table) for each branch where a lifespan section specifies these. For 3.3 in PEP 398:
3.3will receive bugfix updates approximately every 4-6 months for approximately 18 months. After the release of3.4.0final, a final3.3bugfix update will be released. After that, security updates (source only) will be released until 5 years after the release of3.3final, which will be September 2017.
For the rest of the actively maintained Pythons, the PEPs are:
See the Lifespan and Schedule sections for details on these.
Updated schedule (as of August 2022):
- Python 3.4: reached End Of Life
- Python 3.5: reached End Of Life
- Python 3.6: reached End Of Life
- Python 3.7: security fixes only, no
bug fixes will be provided; End Of Life: 2023-06-27 - Python 3.8: security fixes only, no
bug fixes will be provided; End Of Life: 2024-10 - Python 3.9: security fixes only, no
bug fixes will be provided; End Of Life: 2025-10 - Python 3.10: security fixes AND bug fixes will be provided; End Of Life: 2026-10
- Python 3.11: security fixes AND bug fixes will be provided; End Of Life: 2027-10
Source: https://devguide.python.org/#status-of-python-branches
Also notice that Python release cycle has changed to 12 months since Python 3.9. See PEP-602 for more details. It used to be 18 months for Python 3.8 and prior releases. This means we should see Python 3.9 before end of year 2020!