Writing code compatible with python 2.6, 2.7 and 3.2+ in execoΒΆ

Here are some guidelines for execo contributors, for writing code compatible with python 2.6, 2.7 and 3.2+ in execo:

  • As always, do NOT try to optimize some code for python2 versus python3 (eg. by using different codes on python2 and python3), unless you are pretty sure that it is useful.

  • Use python3 print function, import it from __future__ if necessary (anyway, in execo, there should not be much print, since we use the logger).

  • Do not use modules from the python2 standard library that are deprecated or missing from python3. Do not use modules from the python3 standard library that are missing in python2.

  • Use explicit relative imports (https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0328).

  • For catching exceptions, use syntax except xx as yy: instead of except xx, yy. For raising exceptions, use syntax raise xx('yy') instead of raise xx, 'yy'.

  • Use legacy string interpolation (using %).

  • For checking if dict has key, use 'name' in kwargs instead of kwargs.has_key('name').

  • Use dict keys(), values(), items() instead of iterkeys(), itervalues(), iteritems(). Beware, they return lists under python2, views under python3.

  • Use execo.utils.is_string to check reliably if object is a string.

  • Explicitly use integer division // or floating point division / where needed. Ensure floating point division is used under python2 by casting operands.

  • Do not use object.__cmp__(). Do not use the cmp kwarg from sort or sorted.

  • Replace obj.next() with next(obj).

  • Do not use map(), filter(), reduce(). Use list comprehensions instead.

  • Do not use dict comprehensions, set comprehensions, set literals.

  • Use new style octal literals (eg. 0o720 instead of 0720).

  • Use only new-style classes (deriving from object)

  • Use != for testing difference, not <>.

  • When absolutely needed, use version specific sections with this kind of code:

    if sys.version_info >= (3,):
    import queue, _thread
else:
    import Queue as queue, thread as _thread

  • More informations can be found here: https://docs.python.org/3/whatsnew/3.0.html