F40 proposal: Retire python3.7 (Self-Contained Change proposal)

[Ben Cotton]

https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Changes/RetirePython3.7

This document represents a proposed Change. As part of the Changes
process, proposals are publicly announced in order to receive
community feedback. This proposal will only be implemented if approved
by the Fedora Engineering Steering Committee.

== Summary ==
The {{package|python3.7}} package will be retired without replacement
from [[Releases/40|Fedora Linux 40]]. Python 3.7 will be End of Life
in June 2023 and it will be kept around only to test software
targeting Debian 10 “Buster” LTS. The removal is more or less aligned
with [https://wiki.debian.org/LTS Debian 10 TLS EOL] (June 2024) --
Fedora 39 (the last one to include Python 3.7) will likely EOL on
2024-11-12.

== Owner ==
* Name: [[User:Churchyard|Miro Hrončok]]
* Email: mhroncok(a)redhat.com


== Detailed Description ==
The {{package|python3.7}} package with the Python interpreter in
version 3.7 will be kept in Fedora after upstream EOL
([https://devguide.python.org/#status-of-python-branches 2023-06-27])
only to make it possible for Fedora users to test their software
against the Python version shipped in Debian 10 “Buster” LTS.

[https://wiki.debian.org/LTS Debian 10 “Buster” LTS is End of Life in
2024-06]. This happens couple months after the planned release of
Fedora 40. Hence, we decided to retire (completely remove)
{{package|python3.7}} from Fedora 40, before it gets released. Users
who target Debian 10 can use Fedora 39 until it EOLs.

Note that {{package|python3.6}} will remain available for the
foreseeable future to support developers who target RHEL 8.

== Feedback ==
This was discussed on the Python list prior to submitting the change
proposal:
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[e-mail]...

There was no pushback.

== Benefit to Fedora ==
There is no direct benefit here, except that we don't want to maintain
it anymore and we don't think it's a good idea either.

Consider this change proposal a louder orphaning, except that we will
continue to maintain the package in older released and supported
Fedoras (38 and 39). If you wish to continue maintaining Python 3.7 in
Fedora past Fedora Linux 40, please [[SIGs/Python|speak to us]] first.

== Scope ==
* Proposal owners: Retire {{package|python3.7}} from rawhide just
before Fedora 40 is branched . Obsolete it from
{{package|fedora-obsolete-packages}} if it causes troubles on
upgrades. Make sure no Fedora package depends on it in any way (incl.
weak dependencies).
* Other developers: N/A (not needed for this Change)
* Release engineering: N/A (not needed for this Change)
* Policies and guidelines: N/A (not needed for this Change)
* Trademark approval: N/A (not needed for this Change)
* Alignment with Objectives: N/A (not needed for this Change)


== Upgrade/compatibility impact ==
The package will no longer be available from the repositories, but it
may remain on existing installations. If it causes troubles on
upgrade, it needs to be obsoleted.

== How To Test ==
Install Fedora 40. Try to install Python 3.7 via dnf or similar means.
It should not be found.

== User Experience ==
No more Python 3.7 to test user software on.

== Dependencies ==
None.

== Contingency Plan ==
* Contingency mechanism: (What to do?  Who will do it?) N/A (not a
System Wide Change)
* Contingency deadline: N/A (not a System Wide Change)
* Blocks release? N/A (not a System Wide Change), Yes/No


== Documentation ==
N/A (not a System Wide Change)



-- 
Ben Cotton
He / Him / His
Fedora Program Manager
Red Hat
TZ=America/Indiana/Indianapolis