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Python 3 is a different language from Python 2. Yes, they are _almost_ the same language, but they are far enough apart to keep people from making the switch. I
by wiremine 13y ago
Python 3 is a different language from Python 2. Yes, they are _almost_ the same language, but they are far enough apart to keep people from making the switch. It feels closer to Perl 5 => 6 vs. Ruby 1.x => Ruby 2.x.
That's a gross over simplification, but it is closer to the truth than the Python 3 community likes to think.
I wonder: have there ever been a successful language rewrite, post critical pass, in the history of computer languages? If so, what lessons can be brought to the current Python 2/3 situation?
For myself, as a professional Python programmer, I like Python 3 a lot. But until a critical mass of PyPi moves over, it isn't worth the effort for most projects.
Edit: fixed a wrong word.
- dded 13y ago> have there ever been a successful language rewrite, post critical pass, in the history of computer languages? Does K&R C to C89 count? > If so, what lessons can be brought to the current Python 2/3 situation? C89 programs could use K&R libraries [1], and C89 compilers could compile K&R code. [1] Well, so could Pascal or Fortran programs for that matter. Where K&R-->C89 fails as an analogy to py2-->py3 may be important aspects of what's so difficult with py2-->py3. (EDIT: added this footnote.)
- wiremine 13y ago> C89 programs could use K&R libraries That's probably the key. If I could use Py2 libraries as-is in Py3, moving to Py3 would be a minor issue.