As previously announced, the Python package maintainers and the packages feed team have been discussing how to handle the transition from Python 2 to Python 3.
The transition policy / schedule has been mostly finalized and is documented in the Python packages folder README, in the packages feed GitHub repo.
Here is the relevant section from the README:
Python 2 end-of-life
Python 2 will not be maintained past 1 January 2020. As such, we will be transitioning Python 2 programs and libraries to Python 3, and Python 2 packages will be removed in early 2020.
(Discussion for how to handle this transition can be found in #8520.)
Transition policy / schedule
A mass removal event ("The Snap") will occur on 31 March 2020, or 2 weeks before the freeze for a 20.x release, whichever is sooner. The exact date will be confirmed when the 20.x release schedule is known, or by 15 March 2020.
All Python 2 packages (the Python 2 interpreter, programs that depend on Python 2, and Python 2-only libraries) will be removed during this event.
Leading up to "The Snap":
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In general, new Python 2 packages are no longer accepted
- Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis, given extraordinary circumstances or reasons, until 31 May 2019
- From 31 May 2019 onward, absolutely no new Python 2 packages will be accepted
-
The Python 2 interpreter will remain in the feed until "The Snap"
- The interpreter will continue to be updated, including the last release in January 2020 (if there is one)
-
Programs that depend on Python 2 will be transitioned to Python 3 (see #8893)
- If a program cannot be transitioned, a suitable replacement will be found
- If a replacement cannot be found, the program will be removed during "The Snap"
-
Python 2 libraries will remain in the feed until "The Snap"
- A Python 2-only library will be transitioned to Python 3 (or a suitable replacement found), if its Python 3 version is a dependency of another package in the feed
- Python 2 libraries will receive normal updates until 31 October 2019
- From 31 October 2019 onward:
- Python 2-only libraries will receive security updates only
- Python 2 libraries that share the same Makefile as their Python 3 version will continue to receive normal updates