Re: A question about Python versions
Sridhar Ratnakumar wrote: On 1/12/2010 10:09 PM, Gib Bogle wrote: I am learning Python, and using PyQt to develop a GUI that will be used to run a Fortran program on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X (I think Python is great, btw). Without thinking about it I downloaded and started working with a fairly recent Python version, 2.5.4. I've now become aware of the existence of Python 3.1, which apparently is a major revision of the language. Does it make sense to stick with Python 2.x at this point, or should I be starting off with 3.1? Stick with 2.x. If it is recommended to stick with version 2, should I use the latest (2.6.4 or 2.7), and if so why? Thanks. 2.6.4 definitely (as 2.7 final is not released yet). Also see: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/170921 -srid Thanks, very useful. -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
Re: A question about Python versions
Terry Reedy wrote: On 1/13/2010 1:09 AM, Gib Bogle wrote: I am learning Python, and using PyQt to develop a GUI that will be used to run a Fortran program on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X (I think Python is great, btw). Without thinking about it I downloaded and started working with a fairly recent Python version, 2.5.4. I've now become aware of the existence of Python 3.1, which apparently is a major revision of the language. Does it make sense to stick with Python 2.x at this point, or should I be starting off with 3.1? If it is recommended to stick with version 2, should I use the latest (2.6.4 or 2.7), and if so why? Thanks. My view is that if PyQt works with 3.1 (I have the impression it does but may be wrong) and that is the only 3rd parth library you need, or anything else you need works with 3.1, then strongly consider 3.1 for new code. The main difference between 2.6 and 3.1 is the number of old, obsolete things removed that you will not even be tempted to learn about. Terry Jan Reedy On balance I think I'll stick with 2.x - another factor I didn't mention is that most end-users will probably not have 3.x installed on their machines. -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
Re: A question about Python versions
On Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 10:09 PM, Gib Bogle g.bo...@auckland.no.spam.ac.nz wrote: I am learning Python, and using PyQt to develop a GUI that will be used to run a Fortran program on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X (I think Python is great, btw). Without thinking about it I downloaded and started working with a fairly recent Python version, 2.5.4. I've now become aware of the existence of Python 3.1, which apparently is a major revision of the language. Does it make sense to stick with Python 2.x at this point, or should I be starting off with 3.1? This is an FAQ, so you can search the archives for many other responses. If your program needs to use any third-party libraries besides PyQt, you should probably use 2.x as most libraries have yet to be ported to 3.x yet (luckily, PyQt apparently has been ported already). If your program will be pretty self-sufficient, Python 3 is definitely an option and will be nicer to use thanks to the improvements to the language, but most of the changes (aside from strings becoming Unicode) aren't dramatic; it is clearly still the same language (unlike Perl 5 - Perl 6). If it is recommended to stick with version 2, should I use the latest (2.6.4 or 2.7), and if so why? Thanks. The latest stable one, 2.6.4 (2.7 is a preview release); there's no reason not to, and newer versions have more features, bugfixes, etc. Though you should double-check the compatibility of any libraries you'll be using of course. Cheers, Chris -- http://blog.rebertia.com -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
Re: A question about Python versions
On 1/12/2010 10:09 PM, Gib Bogle wrote: I am learning Python, and using PyQt to develop a GUI that will be used to run a Fortran program on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X (I think Python is great, btw). Without thinking about it I downloaded and started working with a fairly recent Python version, 2.5.4. I've now become aware of the existence of Python 3.1, which apparently is a major revision of the language. Does it make sense to stick with Python 2.x at this point, or should I be starting off with 3.1? Stick with 2.x. If it is recommended to stick with version 2, should I use the latest (2.6.4 or 2.7), and if so why? Thanks. 2.6.4 definitely (as 2.7 final is not released yet). Also see: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/170921 -srid -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
Re: A question about Python versions
On 1/13/2010 1:09 AM, Gib Bogle wrote: I am learning Python, and using PyQt to develop a GUI that will be used to run a Fortran program on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X (I think Python is great, btw). Without thinking about it I downloaded and started working with a fairly recent Python version, 2.5.4. I've now become aware of the existence of Python 3.1, which apparently is a major revision of the language. Does it make sense to stick with Python 2.x at this point, or should I be starting off with 3.1? If it is recommended to stick with version 2, should I use the latest (2.6.4 or 2.7), and if so why? Thanks. My view is that if PyQt works with 3.1 (I have the impression it does but may be wrong) and that is the only 3rd parth library you need, or anything else you need works with 3.1, then strongly consider 3.1 for new code. The main difference between 2.6 and 3.1 is the number of old, obsolete things removed that you will not even be tempted to learn about. Terry Jan Reedy -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list