PyMOTW turns 3
The Python Module of the Week series started March 25, 2007 as a personal challenge to learn more about the Python standard library. Since that time, it has grown into something bigger than I ever expected. The series now includes 149 articles with example code showing how to use different parts of the Python standard library. The latest release of the collection includes examples for 119 modules and the PDF version spans 670 pages.
While it has come a long way, the set of examples does not cover the entire library while Python continues to evolve and grow every day. Now that most of the new features or changes to existing APIs are happening as part of the Python 3.x branch, the third anniversary of the beginning of PyMOTW seems like an appropriate time to make the shift from Python 2.6 to Python 3.x. Therefore, all future articles will be written based on the latest Python 3 release. Backwards compatibility notes will be included, where appropriate, but all of the example code will be for Python 3.
I will take a short break from posting to give me time to update my tool chain and start migrating the existing examples. I won’t be re-posting each article to the blog separately, but they will all be available on the updated site when they are ready. I also plan to talk about the porting effort, with an emphasis on any especially tricky bits. I’ll probably do a meta-post about the new tool chain at some point, too.
I’m grateful for all of the support the Python community has shown over the past three years. Readers have provided corrections where needed, offered to translate the writing into other languages, and written notes of encouragement and appreciation. Thank you all, and I hope you will continue to follow along.