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Re: The python command in Debian

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Hi Matthias, others,

On Thu, Jul 9, 2020, at 15:26, Matthias Klose wrote:
> As written in [1], bullseye will not see unversioned python packages and the
> unversioned python command being built from the python-defaults package.
> 
> It seems to be a little bit more controversial what should happen to the python
> command in the long term.  Some people argue that python should never point to
> python3, because it's incompatible, however Debian will have difficulties to
> explain that decision to users who start with Python3 and are not aware of the 2
> to 3 transition.  So yes, in the long term, Debian should have a python command
> again.
> 
> One solution could be not to ship the python command in bullseye, forcing users
> to adjust their local installations.  This has the advantage that the error of
> an unknown interpreter should be pretty clear.  But leaves users without a
> python command for the next two years until bullseye+1.
> 
> Describing here a solution which is implemented for Ubuntu focal (20.04 LTS).  A
> new source package what-is-python (-perl-dont-hurt-me) ships binary packages
> python-is-python2, python-dev-is-python2, python-is-python3 and
> python-dev-is-python3.  The python-is-python2 package provides the python
> package, such that packages that still depend on python are not removed on a
> distro upgrade.  On new installs, python-is-python3 is not installed by default,
> but the user gets a hint from command-not-found to install the package if he
> tries to run python.  Package dependencies on the new four binary packages have
> to be disallowed in the Python policy.  Note that such a package including the
> Provides should only be uploaded once all dependencies on the unversioned python
> packages are gone.

So I see that the removal of `/usr/bin/python`-shipped-by-python-defaults has happened as planned. Thanks!

I've just got a friend ask me about what to do to get /usr/bin/python to point at python3; Do you have any plan of uploading what-is-python for use in bullseye, at least without the python-is-python2 Provides for python as a first step (to keep the current "breakage")?

In any case I think the python packaging policy at https://www.debian.org/doc/packaging-manuals/python-policy/ch-python.html should get an update to match the current status quo related to /usr/bin/python; My friend looked at it and were confused not to find a /usr/bin/python anymore.

Thanks,
-- 
Nicolas Dandrimont

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The python command in Debian Matthias Klose <doko@debian.org> - 2020-07-09 15:30 +0200
  Re: The python command in Debian Jeremy Stanley <fungi@yuggoth.org> - 2020-07-09 19:00 +0200
    Re: The python command in Debian paultag@debian.org - 2020-07-09 19:50 +0200
  Re: The python command in Debian Ondrej Novy <novy@ondrej.org> - 2020-07-09 21:50 +0200
    Re: The python command in Debian Fabrice BAUZAC-STEHLY <noon@mykolab.com> - 2020-07-13 18:30 +0200
      Re: The python command in Debian Matthias Klose <doko@debian.org> - 2020-07-13 19:30 +0200
        Re: The python command in Debian Ondrej Novy <novy@ondrej.org> - 2020-07-14 11:00 +0200
          Re: The python command in Debian Piotr Ożarowski <piotr@debian.org> - 2020-07-14 11:20 +0200
            Re: The python command in Debian Rene Engelhard <rene.engelhard@mailbox.org> - 2020-07-18 08:50 +0200
              Re: The python command in Debian Sebastian Humenda <shumenda@gmx.de> - 2020-07-18 10:30 +0200
                Re: The python command in Debian debacle@debian.org - 2020-07-18 10:40 +0200
                Re: The python command in Debian Dmitry Shachnev <mitya57@debian.org> - 2020-07-18 11:30 +0200
  Re: The python command in Debian Sandro Tosi <morph@debian.org> - 2020-07-16 18:10 +0200
  Re: The python command in Debian "Nicolas Dandrimont" <olasd@debian.org> - 2020-09-17 15:20 +0200
    Re: The python command in Debian Matthias Klose <doko@debian.org> - 2020-09-17 15:40 +0200
  Re: The python command in Debian Matthias Klose <doko@debian.org> - 2021-03-02 10:50 +0100

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