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Can someone help me understand how to think about the transition from 2.7.x to 3.x? I have recently switched my work to Python and just started development on

Can someone help me understand how to think about the transition from 2.7.x to 3.x? I have recently switched my work to Python and just started development on what will become a series of web projects all done in Python + Django. Yes, when it comes to Python I am a noob. Looking at it with fresh eyes it seems that the most useful ecosystem is solidly rooted in the 2.7.x branch. Books and online courses promote the idea of using 2.7.x. My kid enrolled in the MIT intro to CS edX course and they use 2.7.5. Codecademy, same thing. From the perspective of developing a number of non-trivial web-based products, how should I view the 2.7.x and 3.x ecosystems? Do you see a timeline to a transition? How should one prepare for it (or not)? What should one avoid? At the moment it seems safe to pretty much ignore 3.x. I kind of hate that because I have this intense desire to always work with the the latest stable release of any software I use. Here things are different due to the surrounding ecosystem of libraries and tools. I'd certainly appreciate any and all help in understanding this a bit better.

SiVal 13y ago
If you don't have any legacy baggage, you should celebrate your freedom to do what hockey great Wayne Gretszky said was his secret to success: Don't skate to where the puck is, skate to where it will be. The value of Python 2 knowledge is like the value of knowledge of how to write HTML/CSS for old versions of IE: a declining asset. If you don't have to deliver production software for today's user base, rejoice, and focus on learning how to target tomorrow's user base. Python 3 + Django 15 already let you do that. Those external libraries that don't work with Python 3 will either be upgraded or replaced. There is probably a lot you can learn about Python 3 and the latest Django while that takes place. And, regarding kids, I'm teaching mine Python 3 only (no time wasted on Py 2) and the latest HTML5/CSS3 (no time wasted learning workarounds for obsolete browsers). I think they're better off focusing entirely on preparing for the future, not spending part of their time preparing for the past.
- robomartin 13y ago
  Thanks for your perspective on this. I had my kid go through the codecademy python course, which is 2.7.5. Now he is going through the MIT CS class on edX, which also seems to be 2.7.5. At this point I'll help him through this phase and perhaps then make 3.x part of the continuing learning experience. In other words, if you are going to be in CS you will always have to deal with shifts in technology, this being a perfect teaching moment for him to learn that.

SiVal 13y ago

If you don't have any legacy baggage, you should celebrate your freedom to do what hockey great Wayne Gretszky said was his secret to success: Don't skate to where the puck is, skate to where it will be. The value of Python 2 knowledge is like the value of knowledge of how to write HTML/CSS for old versions of IE: a declining asset. If you don't have to deliver production software for today's user base, rejoice, and focus on learning how to target tomorrow's user base. Python 3 + Django 15 already let you do that. Those external libraries that don't work with Python 3 will either be upgraded or replaced. There is probably a lot you can learn about Python 3 and the latest Django while that takes place. And, regarding kids, I'm teaching mine Python 3 only (no time wasted on Py 2) and the latest HTML5/CSS3 (no time wasted learning workarounds for obsolete browsers). I think they're better off focusing entirely on preparing for the future, not spending part of their time preparing for the past.

robomartin 13y ago
Thanks for your perspective on this. I had my kid go through the codecademy python course, which is 2.7.5. Now he is going through the MIT CS class on edX, which also seems to be 2.7.5. At this point I'll help him through this phase and perhaps then make 3.x part of the continuing learning experience. In other words, if you are going to be in CS you will always have to deal with shifts in technology, this being a perfect teaching moment for him to learn that.