[Nix-dev] Python 3 as default

[Freddy Rietdijk]

> I would also vote for not changing "default" python as it will break
stuff.

If we can't break stuff we might as well not make any changes at all.

There are definitely differences between Python 2 and 3 causing
incompatibilities, but incompatibilities also exist between minor versions,
so I don't think it is a very strong argument.

> but the nix expressions only have the version suffixed attributes to
increase explicitness and improve readability.
> Plus then we will be ready for python 4 😛

That means explicitly changing parameters and arguments each time we want
to upgrade Python (major) version. That's okay with certain packages, but
considering how much Python is used throughout Nixpkgs that's just
unrealistic.

I'm still open to getting rid of the `python` attribute, but I just don't
think it is very realistic. If this is the route we want to take, then its
very unlikely we will be able to switch to 3.5 as the default for 17.03, or
3.6 for 17.09.

On Wed, Feb 15, 2017 at 9:10 PM, Ricardo M. Correia <rcorreia at wizy.org>
wrote:

>
> On Tue, Feb 14, 2017 at 2:34 PM, Profpatsch <mail at profpatsch.de> wrote:
>
>> On 17-02-14 01:18pm, Peter Simons wrote:
>> > I hardly ever use nix-shell and I don't want to, to
>> > be honest
>>
>> Completely off-discussion: Why is that?
>> Convenience? nix-shell does too many strange things?
>>
>> Personally I use nix-shell for nearly everything I do
>> nowadays because it’s so convenient.
>> Even a buildFHSUserEnv is quickly set up for strange software.
>>
>
> Personally, I try to avoid using "nix-shell" as much as possible because I
> want "nixos-rebuild switch" to atomically install (and upgrade) all the
> software that I usually need, including development packages.
>
> With nix-shell, I risk having the packages I need become outdated (without
> me noticing) and/or become garbage collected (which I do every day
> automatically) and unavailable if I lose Internet access (e.g. because I'm
> traveling).
>
>
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>
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