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Comment by benn_88 | Hacker News Reader

Awesome project, but why Python 2? :(

Pre-compiled Python wheels are available for Python 3 on Raspberry Pi at piwheels.org (default for pip in Raspbian)

Yep, we hate Python 2 too! But we develop the project in Python2 to use the library NXT-Python (the library responsible to control the Lego Mindstorms NXT). But, in our defense, w also have created a branch of the project using Python 3 :)

I'm tired of seeing this comment over and over on HN. Does everyone who writes a Python 2-based project on HN have to explain themselves and provide a valid excuse? Why can't people just be deciding they like Python 2 more than 3, or finding that it's more suitable for their project?

It doesn't seem unreasonable to me to ask why someone would use a version language that is going to be deprecated in just over a year, when newer versions are readily available.

Is it that hard to assume they either like it more or they couldn't use a later version because of a dependency? The only scenario this question would be useful in is if they had no idea the later version exists, which is a boat I have yet to see anyone fall into. Unless, I guess, it's one of those "questions" that isn't looking for an answer, but simply looking for an opportunity to chastise...

No, but the project will be dead in a year (or rather bitrot will set in), so if there are old dependencies then perhaps effort should be put into porting or working out the kinks in Python3 dependencies doing a similar thing. I understand for a hobby project that's a big ask but it's not unreasonable to question, I think

https://pythonclock.org/

I totally agree. There are so many embedded stuff running Python 2 out there that it will go nowhere. For me the countdown is a joke.

I find it quite telling you were downvoted. It makes it clear that people hate the idea that Python 2.7 may stay around so they keep trying to shut it down at every opportunity.

I'm sorry it's getting tedious (and I agree, it is), but yes, at this point you do need a good reason for staying on Python 2, and in this case, learning about their good reason is actually helpful and insightful into their choices.

This wasn't contentious or combative (I didn't interpret it as such anyway), it's a good question for new projects.

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