Python 3 versions

Python 3 versions

[Jose Isaias Cabrera]

Greetings.

I am going to start a project using python, but I need to be able to run some of the python3 libraries. When I use setup to install python, there are a bunch of python* versions:
python2*
python3
python36*
...
python39*

I know that python2 is, probably, on its way out. But, why so many choices for versions of python? One more question, if I install python3, does that mean that I can use all of those python3x libraries? In other words, can I use the libraries of python37* or python38* or python39? Or are these specific to those versions? Confusing, it is. Thanks.

josé

Re: Python 3 versions

[Adam Dinwoodie]

On Fri, 10 Feb 2023 at 18:46, Jose Isaias Cabrera via Cygwin wrote:
> Greetings.
>
> I am going to start a project using python, but I need to be able to run some of the python3 libraries. When I use setup to install python, there are a bunch of python* versions:
> python2*
> python3
> python36*
> ...
> python39*
>
> I know that python2 is, probably, on its way out.

Correct. Python2 has been completely unsupported by the Python project
for over three years:
https://devguide.python.org/developer-workflow/development-cycle/index.html#end-of-life-branches

> But, why so many choices for versions of python?

Because some Python-based programs need a specific version. If you're
starting out a new project and don't have a specific version, you can
probably use the latest version available, but that's not always the
case.

> One more question, if I install python3, does that mean that I can use all of those python3x libraries? In other words, can I use the libraries of python37* or python38* or python39? Or are these specific to those versions? Confusing, it is. Thanks.

Some Python libraries will work with any 3.x Python version. Most will
only work with a specific version. You definitely won't be able to
use, say, the python37-requests package with a python39 installation.

The "python3" package isn't a real package; it just means "the latest
package of Python3 available". Right now, that means Python 3.9, but I
expect Python 3.10 and 3.11 will appear at some point as well.

HTH

Adam

Re: Python 3 versions

[Jose Isaias Cabrera]

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On Friday, February 10, 2023 03:46 PM, Adam Dinwoodie expressed:

> The "python3" package isn't a real package; it just means "the latest
> package of Python3 available". Right now, that means Python 3.9, but I
> expect Python 3.10 and 3.11 will appear at some point as well.

Thanks, Adam. Kinda figured, but nonetheless, it's good to see it confirmed. Thanks.