Transition to Python3

[mausy5043]

I would like to know if Python3 support is already in the pipeline. And if it is, what are the timelines on the inclusion of python3 in the distribution?

I ask this for several reasons.
My main reason is that Python2.7 will retire shortly (https://pythonclock.org) and security updates for that package will cease around 2020Q1. This, ofcourse, will not instantly break the firewall but does put us at increased risk as time progresses beyond 01JAN2020.

Another reason is that I develop python software. I use python3 and it annoys the heck out of me that I can't run those apps under OPNsense because python3 is not supported. I know I can install python3 manually, but that has some unwanted side-effects (notably during upgrades  ). Alternatively, re-factoring back to python2.7 just to support OPNsense is a no-go where I'm concerned.

[franco]

We'll add Python3 in 19.1. The main reason for not bundling it until now is that the major updates are bigger than they could be, especially when nobody works on the migration. Some scripts were migrated earlier but work was required elsewhere so it was postponed.


Cheers,
Franco

[mausy5043]

We'll add Python3 in 19.1.

Thanks!

[franco]

Unless something silly happens with the packaging later on we'll have Python 3.6 with 18.7.7 onwards, which also fixes your major upgrade issue since then 3.6 is provided on upgrade.

https://github.com/opnsense/core/issues/2834#issuecomment-433807922


Cheers,
Franco