Is it still Python 2.6 versus Python 3?

Question

G'day,

I'm wanting to go back to Python after not using it for a while and I saw this question "Python Version for a Newbie" while wondering about getting back into Python 2.6 or Python 3.

Almost all of the questions' answers were along the lines that most of the code out there, libraries, legacy systems, etc., is 2.5 or 2.6 rather than 3 so start with 2.x now and then head towards 3 later on.

Given that the question and all answers date from early December 2008 I was wondering is this still the case?

Should someone who wants to get back into Python maybe start off with 2.6 and then head towards 3 later on?

Answer 1

Yes. Virtually all live production systems will use 2.5/2.6 for a long time yet. There's no point learning 3.0, only to have to downgrade it because your host doesn't support it.

95% of what you will learn in 2.5/2.6 is applicable to 3 anyway.

Answer 2

Depends on the amount of libraries you're going to use.

• Raw Python, or all libs are available for Py3k - go for it without any doubts.

• Python code distributed as standalone app (using PyInstaller), relying on some GUI lib, XML-lib, win32api etc - double check if all libs are available at least as betas for Py3k. Chances are still quite high that some older lib is not available for Python 3.x, and either you port it by yourself to new Python version, or you switch to some other lib or - stick to Python 2.6 for a while.