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You're missing the point. If decision makers saw it coming that Python will just break in two, they would have never allowed its use. Other "serious" programmin

You're missing the point. If decision makers saw it coming that Python will just break in two, they would have never allowed its use. Other "serious" programming languages rarely if ever break, and when they do, it's usually minor. Python2 will almost certainly still remain in widespread use and it will still get security updates through alternative distribution channels. It's not that much work fixing such relatively rare issues versus migrating a major codebase.

mindcrime 7y ago
It's not "broken"... Python3 is just the evolution of the language. Languages change and evolve, some more and some less than others. Sure, Java or COBOL maybe have done a better job of not breaking backwards compatibility, but Python 3 isn't exactly Perl 6 here. But hey, if some 3rd party group effectively forks the language and maintains a Python2 branch after the official EOL date, good on them. But I'd argue that using that is risky in the same way that using a Pale Moon or Waterfox is (arguably) riskier than using mainstream Firefox.
- spider-mario 7y ago
  > Python 3 isn't exactly Perl 6 here. For what it’s worth, Perl 6 can load Perl 5 libraries: https://github.com/niner/Inline-Perl5 https://github.com/niner/Inline-Perl5
- mgkimsal 7y ago
  IceWeasel FTW. Security through obscurity, baby...
- gridlockd 7y ago
  > It's not "broken"... Python3 is just the evolution of the language. Python3 broke compatibility for spurious reasons. The language didn't change that much, it could have kept compatibility with minor concessions. > Java or COBOL maybe have done a better job of not breaking backwards compatibility... Literally every single other major language has done a better job at it. That's a big part of why they are major languages. Also, most of these are statically typed, so any minor breaking change is far less risky to pull off. > ...but Python 3 isn't exactly Perl 6 here. Well, maybe if Perl6 didn't happen Perl wouldn't be irrelevant today.
  - chungy 7y ago
    > Literally every single other major language has done a better job at it. C++'s upgrade woes make Python 3 look downright trivial in comparison.
    - gridlockd 7y ago
      What are you talking about? C++ has had very few breaking changes in the language. If you're talking about ABI breaking, that's a different story. Python breaks the ABI in every major release as well. That generally requires a recompile, not a major code migration.

mindcrime 7y ago

It's not "broken"... Python3 is just the evolution of the language. Languages change and evolve, some more and some less than others. Sure, Java or COBOL maybe have done a better job of not breaking backwards compatibility, but Python 3 isn't exactly Perl 6 here. But hey, if some 3rd party group effectively forks the language and maintains a Python2 branch after the official EOL date, good on them. But I'd argue that using that is risky in the same way that using a Pale Moon or Waterfox is (arguably) riskier than using mainstream Firefox.

spider-mario 7y ago
> Python 3 isn't exactly Perl 6 here. For what it’s worth, Perl 6 can load Perl 5 libraries: https://github.com/niner/Inline-Perl5 https://github.com/niner/Inline-Perl5
mgkimsal 7y ago
IceWeasel FTW. Security through obscurity, baby...
gridlockd 7y ago
> It's not "broken"... Python3 is just the evolution of the language. Python3 broke compatibility for spurious reasons. The language didn't change that much, it could have kept compatibility with minor concessions. > Java or COBOL maybe have done a better job of not breaking backwards compatibility... Literally every single other major language has done a better job at it. That's a big part of why they are major languages. Also, most of these are statically typed, so any minor breaking change is far less risky to pull off. > ...but Python 3 isn't exactly Perl 6 here. Well, maybe if Perl6 didn't happen Perl wouldn't be irrelevant today.
- chungy 7y ago
  > Literally every single other major language has done a better job at it. C++'s upgrade woes make Python 3 look downright trivial in comparison.
  - gridlockd 7y ago
    What are you talking about? C++ has had very few breaking changes in the language. If you're talking about ABI breaking, that's a different story. Python breaks the ABI in every major release as well. That generally requires a recompile, not a major code migration.