Python2 demotion (moving from main to universe) in progress

[Xen]

> Python upstream announced the EOL of Python2 for 2020
> 
>   https://pythonclock.org/
> 
> It is unlikely that the demotion of Python2 will be possible for the 
> 18.04 LTS
> release, but please work on the issues so that we are ready for the 
> demotion
> once OpenStack is using Python3.

Personally I don't know *why* this needed to happen. Also from the 
perspective of the python devs, I mean.

It was pushed upon an unwilling community and the python people have 
really been pulling the cart with great force against wheels unwilling 
to leave the tracks.

Which should be indication enough that it's still needed.

There are so many older systems and older packages and at some point it 
will simply be impossible to run these programs and there was never a 
great necessity to see Python 2 go.

Except to force more people onto Python 3.

Alternatives kinda ...blow... in that sense.

You don't want people to have choice if they keep making the wrong ones 
right.

But I was going to say 2 years might seem like a lot, or 3 years, but it 
is nothing.

Meanwhile we can still run C programs from 1980, basically.

Or whereabouts, at least.

I think you can definitely find a way to compile most programs from 
1990...

The discontinuation of PHP 5 also seems to have been unnecessary and 
puts many many people into a tough spot.

Preventing people from upgrading their distributions etc.

I mean I understand Ubuntu is a 'consumer' here and not a 'producer' (or 
follower and not leader) but sometimes...

The ones who follow seem more eager than the ones who lead.

Meanwhile there is not really any good reasons for the discontinuation.

It's just done because people want it to be done but there aren't really 
any good reasons for it.

And before anyone says anything: electrical screwdrivers are very handy, 
but we can still buy ordinary ones.

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