Is there official guide for Python 3.x release lifecycle?

Question

I just noticed Python 3.2 was removed from the drop down selector in Python Docs. I have a framework using Python 3.3, so I'd like to know when it'll share the same fate, and move to a newer version before this happens.

Is there an official guide on how long Python 3.x gets support, backports, etc.? I couldn't find any information about Python release lifecycle on Python's home page or via search engines.

Solution 1

As of this answer (January 2021):

• Python 3.4: reached End Of Life
• Python 3.5: reached End Of Life
• Python 3.6: security fixes only, no bug fixes will be provided; End Of Life: 2021-12-23
• Python 3.7: security fixes only, no bug fixes will be provided; End Of Life: 2023-06-27
• Python 3.8: security fixes AND bug fixes will be provided; End Of Life: 2024-10
• Python 3.9: security fixes AND bug fixes will be provided; End Of Life: TBD

Source: https://devguide.python.org/#status-of-python-branches

Also notice that Python release cycle has changed to 12 months since Python 3.9. See PEP-602 for more details. It used to be 18 months for Python 3.8 and prior releases. This means we should see Python 3.9 before end of year 2020!

Solution 2

Yes, you could look at the table in the Pythons Developer Guide for most releases. Specifically Python 3.3 will have security fixes until 2017-09-29.

Additionally, appropriate PEPs exist (google-able or from the devguide table) for each branch where a lifespan section specifies these. For 3.3 in PEP 398:

3.3 will receive bugfix updates approximately every 4-6 months for approximately 18 months. After the release of 3.4.0 final, a final 3.3 bugfix update will be released. After that, security updates (source only) will be released until 5 years after the release of 3.3 final, which will be September 2017.

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For the rest of the actively maintained Pythons, the PEPs are:

• Python 3.9 PEP 596
• Python 3.8 PEP 569
• Python 3.7 PEP 537
• Python 3.6 PEP 494
• Python 3.5 PEP 478

See the Lifespan and Schedule sections for details on these.

Solution 3

Each Python release gets a Release Schedule PEP which includes information about the planned lifespan. For 3.3: https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0398/#id11

Comments

[normanius]

For the release and end-of-life dates of former Python versions, see this link.