Alibaba Cloud SDK:End of support for Python 2.7 and 3.6 in Alibaba Cloud SDK for Python

Announcement

Beginning May 1, 2024, Alibaba Cloud SDK for Python no longer supports the Python 2.7 runtime or the Python 3 runtime of version 3.6 or earlier.

• Support and maintenance for Python 2.7 ended on May 1, 2024.

• Support and maintenance for Python 3.6 and earlier ended on October 1, 2024.

For Python 2.7, the following repositories are involved: V2.0 and V1.0. For Python 3, the following repositories are involved: V2.0 and V1.0. For more information, see SDK version support matrix.

^{Note: The preceding figure is referenced from Status of Python versions}.

Why does Alibaba Cloud end support for Python 2.7 and 3.6?

The Python Software Foundation (PSF) publishes end-of-life dates for all Python versions. When the Python community ends support for a version, Alibaba Cloud typically discontinues that version approximately one year later. This end-of-support announcement for Python 2.7 and 3.6 was delayed. Future end-of-support announcements will follow the timeline specified in the service level agreement (SLA). For more information, see the End-of-support dates for Python versions section of this topic.

Python 2.7

Python 2.7.18 is the last version of Python 2. The PSF states that "As of January 1st, 2020 no new bug reports, fixes, or changes will be made to Python 2, and Python 2 is no longer supported."

Many major Python projects and packages have already dropped Python 2.7 support. Alibaba Cloud is following suit to keep its SDKs secure and up to date.

• Python 2.7 Release Schedule

Python 3.6

Python 3.6.15 is the last version of Python 3.6. On December 23, 2021, the PSF officially ended support for Python 3.6. For more information about the status of Python versions, see Status of Python versions.

• Python 3.6 Release Schedule

What does end-of-support mean?

After the end-of-support date, Alibaba Cloud SDK for Python no longer applies security patches to the Python 2.7 or 3.6 runtime, and Alibaba Cloud no longer provides technical support for SDKs that use these versions.

• Beginning May 1, 2024, users of Python 2.7 are no longer able to use the Python 2.7 runtime to call new API operations of Alibaba Cloud services.

• Beginning October 1, 2024, users of Python 3.6 no longer receive technical support for using the Python 3.6 runtime to call API operations of Alibaba Cloud services. In addition, compilation errors may occur after the major version of an SDK is upgraded. For SDKs that use Python 3, Alibaba Cloud will publish a major version upgrade to end the support for Python 3.6 or earlier.

Can the existing SDK for Python 2.7 continue to work?

Yes, the existing SDK for Python 2.7 continues to work. However, we strongly recommend that you migrate to a supported Python version to continue receiving security patches and technical support.

Does the existing SDK for Python 3 support Python 3.6 or earlier?

Yes, your SDK for Python 3 continues to work in the Python 3.6 runtime as long as you do not upgrade the major version of the SDK. However, we strongly recommend that you migrate to a supported Python version to access the latest API operations of Alibaba Cloud services.

What do I need to do?

Python 2.7

For users of Alibaba Cloud SDK V1.0 for Python:

• If you want to continue to use the Python 2.7 runtime:

  • You must make sure that the version of the SDK for Python is of a major version that supports the Python 2.7 runtime. For example, if your SDK version is V1.x.x and V2.x.x no longer supports the Python 2.7 runtime, you must make sure that your SDK version number is equal to or greater than 1.0.0 and smaller than 2.0.0.

• If you want to use the latest features of the SDK:

  • You must discontinue your Python 2.7 runtime, upgrade the runtime of the SDK to a supported Python version, and upgrade your SDK version. To check whether the SDK is of V1.0, see if the format of the package name is the same as that of the package names in the Integrate an SDK topic. If yes, the SDK is of V1.0.

For users of Alibaba Cloud SDK V2.0 for Python:

• If you want to continue to use the Python 2.7 runtime:

  • You can continue to use the existing SDK for Python 2. The package name is in the format of alibabacloud-{product}{version}-py2. The name ends with the suffix -py2.

• If you want to use the latest features of the SDK:

  • You must migrate the SDK for Python 2 to the SDK for Python 3. The format of the package name is changed from alibabacloud-{product}{version}-py2 to alibabacloud-{product}{version}. The new format does not have the suffix -py2. For more information, see Get started with Alibaba Cloud Darabonba SDK for Python. To check whether the SDK is of V2.0, see if the SDK is used in the way described in the Get started with Alibaba Cloud Darabonba SDK for Python topic. If yes, the SDK is of V2.0.

Python 3.6

For users of Alibaba Cloud SDK V1.0 or V2.0 for Python:

• If you want to continue to use the Python 3.6 runtime:

  • You must make sure that the version of the SDK for Python is of a major version that supports the Python 3.6 runtime. For example, if your SDK version is V2.x.x and V3.x.x no longer supports the Python 3.6 runtime, you must make sure that your SDK version number is equal to or greater than 2.0.0 and smaller than 3.0.0.

• If you want to use the latest features of the SDK:

  • You must discontinue your Python 3.6 runtime, upgrade the runtime of the SDK to a supported Python version, and upgrade your SDK version.

How do I upgrade Python 2 to Python 3?

The Python community provides guides and tools for porting Python 2 code to Python 3. For more information, see:

• How to port Python 2 Code to Python 3

• Automated Python 2 to 3 code translation

End-of-support dates for Python versions

The following table lists the end-of-support dates for Python versions in Alibaba Cloud SDK for Python.

Python version	PSF end-of-life date	Alibaba Cloud SDK end-of-support date
2.7 (PEP 373)	January 1, 2020	May 1, 2024
3.6 (PEP 494)	December 23, 2021	October 1, 2024
3.7 (PEP 537)	June 27, 2023	Scheduled in May 2025
3.8 (PEP 569)	Scheduled in October 2024	Scheduled in October 2025
3.9 (PEP 596)	Scheduled in October 2025	Scheduled in October 2026
3.10 (PEP 619)	Scheduled in October 2026	Scheduled in October 2027
3.11 (PEP 664)	Scheduled in October 2027	Scheduled in October 2028
3.12 (PEP 693)	Scheduled in October 2028	Scheduled in October 2029

What if I need extra help?

If you have questions, submit your feedback in OpenAPI Explorer or join the DingTalk group OpenAPI Explorer-Oncall Service Group 3 (ID: 11695023429) for technical support.

References

• Announcing the end of support for Python 2.7 in the AWS SDK for Python and AWS CLI v1

• Announcing end of support for Python 2.7 in AWS Lambda

• Azure SDK Python packages support for Python 2.7 is ending 01 January 2022