Python 2.0 beta 1 released

jhylton writes "How's this for a rapid release schedule? Python 2.0 beta 1 is now available from BeOpen PythonLabs. There is a long list of new features since Python 1.6, released earlier today. We don't plan on any new releases in the next 24 hours ."

Comments

the diff

[Anonymous Coward]

python.org is owned and run by CRNI. guido and the core developers left CRNI because they were reducing resources for python development. thus, the team found a new sponsor in beopen.com.

it boils down to python having the resources to evolve, which is a good thing.

from a developers standpoint. python 2.0 is still based off the same code base. the big rewrite will probably not come to fruition for another 1-2 years. i believe 2.0 has a duel license, both gpl and the old python style CRNI license.

2.0 has some cool features including full support for unicode, list comprehensions (very cool), more xml tools, and a rewrite and speedup of the regular expression parser. *but*, 2.0 also breaks many of 3rd party extension packages, so you may want to keep 1.52 or 1.6 around until 2.0 support matures.

as far as a 'language spec' goes... python is an evolving language with many contributors. python has pep's which are basically a new feature request proposal. most peps include a patch to demonstrate the new feature, as well as supporting arguements for the feature. the group of core developers then fights among themselves about the merits until a steady state is reached. votes are taken, and i think guido has the final say.

jherber