Path: csiph.com!usenet.pasdenom.info!aioe.org!bofh.it!news.nic.it!robomod
From: Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton <lkcl@lkcl.net>
Newsgroups: linux.debian.maint.python
Subject: Re: Challenges packaging Python for a Linux distro - at Python  Language Summit
Date: Sun, 16 May 2021 14:30:01 +0200
Message-ID: <Cfo49-1Ff-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
References: <CfnUt-1Ce-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
X-Original-To: debian-python@lists.debian.org
X-Mailbox-Line: From debian-python-request@lists.debian.org  Sun May 16 12:29:28 2021
Old-Return-Path: <prvs=07701fa8f9=lkcl@lkcl.net>
X-Amavis-Spam-Status: No, score=-5.201 tagged_above=-10000 required=5.3 tests=[BAYES_00=-2, DKIM_INVALID=0.1, DKIM_SIGNED=0.1, FOURLA=0.1, KHOP_HELO_FCRDNS=0.399, LDO_WHITELIST=-5, MONOTONE_WORDS_2_15=1, MURPHY_SCAM1=0.1] autolearn=no autolearn_force=no
X-Policyd-Weight: using cached result; rate:hard: -4.6
X-Gm-Message-State: AOAM533Wni3Ql19v8DCWPbbOyecEbjXKNkODk16HumWcnx+SuU3yMzwy S+vtT8Ai658D6Ge5tDm7eRnLC+WQDX7llEx9LJE=
X-Google-SMTP-Source: ABdhPJzIRDQ7aUQrckFewahllR4hOlRMT93szjs6C+SnEHC8qUvWmiGkdvXRAMo9x5hSEVeqhs2bO/cmEPpDxCWH5HY=
X-Received: by 2002:a05:6512:3233:: with SMTP id f19mr39920091lfe.350.1621167717473; Sun, 16 May 2021 05:21:57 -0700 (PDT)
MIME-Version: 1.0
X-Gmail-Original-Message-ID: <CAPweEDz-9opgxJg13MNWaBE2VDF40rXzEKp1Z4Grn=j=h3LBxw@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
X-Mailing-List: <debian-python@lists.debian.org> archive/latest/19152
List-ID: <debian-python.lists.debian.org>
List-URL: <https://lists.debian.org/debian-python/>
List-Archive: https://lists.debian.org/msgid-search/CAPweEDz-9opgxJg13MNWaBE2VDF40rXzEKp1Z4Grn=j=h3LBxw@mail.gmail.com
Approved: robomod@news.nic.it
Lines: 33
Organization: linux.* mail to news gateway
Sender: robomod@news.nic.it
X-Original-Date: Sun, 16 May 2021 13:21:46 +0100
X-Original-Message-ID: <CAPweEDz-9opgxJg13MNWaBE2VDF40rXzEKp1Z4Grn=j=h3LBxw@mail.gmail.com>
X-Original-References: <CAPweEDwLJJbJFJ+h25anTyE=P=vnVm29SjQNw1QSS8DdYCG4Pw@mail.gmail.com>
Xref: csiph.com linux.debian.maint.python:13365

On Sun, May 16, 2021 at 12:52 PM Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton
<lkcl@lkcl.net> wrote:

> to fix this, there needs to be a stable overlap where multiple compiled versions
> are installed and maintained. to fix the problem, the rule needs to be set:
>
> * any given version of python *MUST* cross over from one debian/stable
>   to another debian/stable.
> * only when a given version of python has been in TWO versions of
>   debian/stable may it be considered for retirement / removal

sorry, correction / clarification:

any given version of python *and all python packages* must cross over
from and be permanently and irrevocably available across two versions
of debian/stable.

this will sove in one fell swoop all of the issues that have been reported
multiple times by multiple people for many years, creating a long-term
reliable and stable distribution.

you will be able to *SAFELY* do what you just did - back out of
python 3.8 and deploy 3.9 - *WITHOUT* completely destroying
people's systems because 3.7 was force-removed and they were
given absolutely no choice in the matter.

btw please, please, i am anticipating responses of the type
"it's your problem, you shouldn't be using debian/testing, if
you do you get everything you deserve".  if that thought crossed
your mind, please reconsider, and ask instead "why is this
person using debian/testing for 20 years".

l.