Abstract

The BDFL, having shepherded Python development for 20 years,officially announces his retirement, effective immediately. Followinga unanimous vote, his replacement is named.

Rationale

Guido wrote the original implementation of Python in 1989, and afternearly 20 years of leading the community, has decided to step aside asits Benevolent Dictator For Life. His official title is nowBenevolent Dictator Emeritus Vacationing Indefinitely from theLanguage (BDEVIL). Guido leaves Python in the good hands of its newleader and its vibrant community, in order to train for his lifelongdream of climbing Mount Everest.

After unanimous vote of the Python Steering Union (not to be confusedwith the Python Secret Underground, which emphatically does not exist)at the 2009 Python Conference (PyCon 2009), Guido’s successor has beenchosen: Barry Warsaw, or as he is affectionately known, Uncle Barry.Uncle Barry’s official title is Friendly Language Uncle For Life (FLUFL).

Official Acts of the FLUFL

FLUFL Uncle Barry enacts the following decisions, in order todemonstrate his intention to lead the community in the sameresponsible and open manner as his predecessor, whose name escapeshim:

• Recognized that the selection ofHg as the DVCS of choice wasclear proof of the onset of the BDEVIL’s insanity, and revertingthis decision to switch toBzr instead, the only true choice.
• Recognized that the!= inequality operator in Python 3.0 was ahorrible, finger pain inducing mistake, the FLUFL reinstates the<> diamond operator as the sole spelling. This change isimportant enough to be implemented for, and released in Python3.1. To help transition to this feature, a new future statement,from__future__importbarry_as_FLUFL has been added.
• Recognized that theprint function in Python 3.0 was a horrible,pain-inducing mistake, the FLUFL reinstates theprintstatement. This change is important enough to be implemented for,and released in Python 3.0.2.
• Recognized that the disappointing adoption curve of Python 3.0signals its abject failure, all work on Python 3.1 and subsequentPython 3.x versions is hereby terminated. All features in Python3.0 shall be back ported to Python 2.7 which will be the officialand sole next release. The Python 3.0 string and bytes types willbe back ported to Python 2.6.2 for the convenience of developers.
• Recognized that C is a 20th-century language with almost universalrejection by programmers under the age of 30, the CPythonimplementation will terminate with the release of Python 2.6.2 and3.0.2. Thereafter, the reference implementation of Python willtarget the Parrot[1] virtual machine. Alternative implementationsof Python (e.g. Jython[2], IronPython[3], and PyPy[4]) areofficially discouraged but tolerated.
• Recognized that the Python Software Foundation[5] having fulfilledits mission admirably, is hereby disbanded. The Python SteeringUnion[6] (not to be confused with the Python Secret Underground,which emphatically does not exist), is now the sole steward for allof Python’s intellectual property. All PSF funds are herebytransferred to the PSU (not that PSU, the other PSU).

References

Copyright

This document is the property of the Python Steering Union (not to beconfused with the Python Secret Underground, which emphatically doesnot exist). We suppose it’s okay for you to read this, but don’t eventhink about quoting, copying, modifying, or distributing it.