Re: [PATCH 1/3] gdb/python: remove Python 2 support

[Simon Marchi <simon.marchi@polymtl.ca>]

On 2022-01-08 03:18, Joel Brobecker wrote:
>>> I therefore propose to drop Python 2 support.  I know that a few
>>> maintainers have given their informal support for this (on IRC and the
>>> mailing list).
>>
>> Given this is a pretty big change (if you are a user that happens to
>> build against Py2), I wonder if it would be worth holding off this
>> change until after GDB 12 has branched?
> 
> FWIW, if it were me proposing the patch, I'd ask that we go ahead
> now. Delaying patches always comes at a cost, and while I'm sympathetic
> to those few who might not be ready to move to Python 3.x yet,
> they can continue using GDB 11 if needed. Meanwhile, I'm hoping
> to start discussions about GDB 12 a couple of weeks from now,
> and it's typically taken us a couple of months before we reach
> a point where we can branch, and then another month or two,
> sometimes more, before the first release is out. So those who
> still depend on Python 2.x have those many months to finish
> their transition.

Personally, I would also prefer merging sooner than later, just because
once it's done I can stop worrying about it.  But I am also not in a
hurry.  What finally triggered me to do this was the review of
Andrew's patch, I don't know if that is urgent or not.

Joel, I don't think that the problem is the time we leave to downstream
users who might be impacted, but how we reach them.  I like the idea of
the NEWS entry to give a heads up, because it might be the only way we
have to communicate with some downstream users.  Oh, and we could also
make it so GDB shows a warning at startup if it's built with Python 2,
saying that Python 2 support will be removed in the next version.  That
has maybe more chances of being seen.

If drop support in GDB 12, we don't have a chance to warn users (unless
we add that warning to GDB 11.2...).  We could always send an email on
the mailing lists, but that probably doesn't have as much reach.

So, if there is no particular rush, I am leaning towards aiming for GDB
13.

Simon