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Comment by edukodo | Hacker News Reader

So, Portable Python 3.8 would be a good idea, non ? An 3.4 for XP ? XP still exists ?

Yes, I think it would make sense to provide a kit based on 3.8 instead, which does constitute a big enough improvement over 3.4 to drop some platforms, while remaining in support for years to come. For workstation use, I suppose XP is dead now—one may certainly hope so...

Some Googling suggests some 25M Windows XP users as of Sep 2020. Also see: https://www.quora.com/Is-using-Windows-XP-in-2020-still-a-go...

While that could certainly be true, these examples are all environments where running anything but mission critical legacy software (heaven forbid unofficial apps off the internet) wouldn't be acceptable anyway.

Kind of a tangent (and not an XP user!), but who defines mission-critical? Why can't normal people have things that they consider mission-critical? If my machine updates and crashes or breaks some program, and it prevents me from being able to do my job, or prevents my small business from running, it's OK because I'm just a random nobody and the machine isn't mission-critical because... why exactly? Is it not critical the mission of supporting my family and paying my bills? Only if it's a Large Company with millions of dollars to lose then it gets blessed as mission-critical? Whose mission is critical here exactly?

Anyone is welcome to consider their system mission critical, and if so, they should act accordingly, i.e. choose control and safety over convenience. Portable apps such as this one have no place there.

My point was: keeping support for Windows 7 at the cost of basically nothing seems sensible for now. That leaving some niche of Windows XP, Windows 98 or MS-DOS users does not change the balance. Few still use these platforms to begin with, and even fewer would benefit from a portable Python app.

> but who defines mission-critical?

Well, each user, so you are well within your rights to define any of your systems as mission-critical, if that's how you consider them.

There is no Council of Critical Missions that needs to evaluate applications. :)

> while remaining in support for years to come.

Python 3.8 has already reached the point where it’s only receiving security updates - not other bug fixes.

While both 7 and XP are out of support, 7 has significantly more marketshare than XP and is still used by many people.

Windows 7 is covered by paid Extended Support Updates (ESU) till Feb 2023 even.

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