Python maintenance

[germa89]

Following Numpy and Sphinx, I think we should consider to deprecate Python 3.8.

The action list should be:

• Add warning deprecation warning in current release - Adding warnings for Python 3.8 #2245
• Deprecate python 3.8 in 0.67: Deprecating CORBA and Python 3.8 #2517
• Support Python 3.12 - Adding python 3.12. #2244 feat: add support for Python 3.12 #2507
• Use Python 3.10 as default - Using python 3.10 as default #2243

The deprecation warning won't be a deprecation per se. It will be a "drop support" message. I am not planning to force users to have a minimum Python version.

Ping @RobPasMue @jorgepiloto @koubaa for feedback.

[germa89]

Reference: https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/installation.html

Installing Sphinx — Sphinx documentation

[germa89]

/remind me to work on this in 4 hours

[reminders]

@germa89 set a reminder for Aug 11th 2023

[RobPasMue]

Python 3.8 is +1 year away from EOL... Is there any kind of code specific for Python 3.8 on your library that you want to get rid of right now?... Following our previous approach, I think we should wait until the Ansys Unified Install decides to deprecate it... As we did with Python 3.7. Though I think Python 3.8 is not shipped with it. They jumped to Python 3.10 AFAIK.

Anyway... I'd avoid it, at least for now.

[RobPasMue]

FYI - I agree on using 3.10 as default. Even 3.11 at this point!

[germa89]

Anyway... I'd avoid it, at least for now.

I didn't get it. You will avoid to deprecate it?

The plan is to "stop supporting it" with 0.67, which might come in months at the current release level. Very likely in 2024.

[RobPasMue]

Yes, I'd avoid deprecating Python 3.8 right now. You can announce deprecation "a few months" before actually dropping its support, but with +1 year still of life, my opinion is that it is too soon to start deprecating it. But again, that's just my POV - feel free to deprecate it if you prefer!

[germa89]

Yes, I'd avoid deprecating Python 3.8 right now. You can announce deprecation "a few months" before actually dropping its support, but with +1 year still of life, my opinion is that it is too soon to start deprecating it. But again, that's just my POV - feel free to deprecate it if you prefer!

You are right. I will wait for the EOL to deprecate it.

[germa89]

Furthermore, it seems that Python 3.12 is not yet officially release.. So better wait on deprecating 3.8.

[RobPasMue]

See #2507 - vtk 9.3.0 supports Python 3.12