Changes/RetirePython3.7

Retire python3.7

Summary

The python3.7 package will be retired without replacement from Fedora Linux 40. Python 3.7 will be End of Life in June 2023 and it will be kept around only to test software targeting Debian 10 “Buster” LTS. The removal is more or less aligned with Debian 10 TLS EOL (June 2024) -- Fedora 39 (the last one to include Python 3.7) will likely EOL on 2024-11-12.

Owner

• Name: Miro Hrončok
• Email: mhroncok@redhat.com

Current status

• Targeted release: Fedora Linux 40
• Last updated: 2022-07-08
• devel thread
• FESCo issue: #2816
• Tracker bug: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
• Release notes tracker: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>

Detailed Description

The python3.7 package with the Python interpreter in version 3.7 will be kept in Fedora after upstream EOL (2023-06-27) only to make it possible for Fedora users to test their software against the Python version shipped in Debian 10 “Buster” LTS.

Debian 10 “Buster” LTS is End of Life in 2024-06. This happens couple months after the planned release of Fedora 40. Hence, we decided to retire (completely remove) python3.7 from Fedora 40, before it gets released. Users who target Debian 10 can use Fedora 39 until it EOLs.

Note that python3.6 will remain available for the foreseeable future to support developers who target RHEL 8.

Feedback

This was discussed on the Python list prior to submitting the change proposal: https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/python-devel@lists.fedoraproject.org/thread/W74WYEVGYAE57KVLCG73I75LZYKKUMXS/

There was no pushback.

Benefit to Fedora

There is no direct benefit here, except that we don't want to maintain it anymore and we don't think it's a good idea either.

Consider this change proposal a louder orphaning, except that we will continue to maintain the package in older released and supported Fedoras (38 and 39). If you wish to continue maintaining Python 3.7 in Fedora past Fedora Linux 40, please speak to us first.

Scope

• Proposal owners: Retire python3.7 from rawhide just before Fedora 40 is branched . Obsolete it from fedora-obsolete-packages if it causes troubles on upgrades. Make sure no Fedora package depends on it in any way (incl. weak dependencies).

• Other developers: N/A (not needed for this Change)

• Release engineering: N/A (not needed for this Change)

• Policies and guidelines: N/A (not needed for this Change)

• Trademark approval: N/A (not needed for this Change)

• Alignment with Objectives: N/A (not needed for this Change)

Upgrade/compatibility impact

The package will no longer be available from the repositories, but it may remain on existing installations. If it causes troubles on upgrade, it needs to be obsoleted.

How To Test

Install Fedora 40. Try to install Python 3.7 via dnf or similar means. It should not be found.

User Experience

No more Python 3.7 to test user software on.

Dependencies

None.

Contingency Plan

• Contingency mechanism: (What to do? Who will do it?) N/A (not a System Wide Change)
• Contingency deadline: N/A (not a System Wide Change)
• Blocks release? N/A (not a System Wide Change), Yes/No

Documentation

N/A (not a System Wide Change)