December 3, 2008

Python 3.0 released

PythonA high-level language known for readability — dominant in data science, scripting, and web backends. 3.0 shipped as an intentionally backward-incompatible cleanup of the language and standard library.

What it was for

Python (programming language)Same roles as PythonA high-level language known for readability — dominant in data science, scripting, and web backends. 2 — scripting, web, data, automationUsing machines or software to perform tasks with minimal human intervention. — but with breaking fixes: proper UnicodeA standard mapping characters from all writing systems to code points — the basis of UTF-8 on the web. strings, cleaner syntax (`print()` as function), and removed old APIs. Migration took years; today PythonA high-level language known for readability — dominant in data science, scripting, and web backends. 3 is the only supported line for new work.

Why it's here

The PythonA high-level language known for readability — dominant in data science, scripting, and web backends. 2→3 transition was one of the biggest ecosystem migrations in open-source history.

Why it mattered

It fixed long-standing design warts (unicode strings, print as function, removed old APIs) at the cost of breakage.

What it solved

PythonA high-level language known for readability — dominant in data science, scripting, and web backends. 2 accumulated deprecated patterns that could not be fixed without breaking existing code.

Media

  • Python (programming language)
    ImagePython (programming language)

    www.python.org, GPL, via Wikimedia Commons

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