[Python-Dev] cpython (2.7): - Issue #17086: Backport the patches from the 3.3 branch to cross-build

[Antoine Pitrou]

On Fri, 1 Feb 2013 11:00:24 +1000
Nick Coghlan <ncoghlan at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Fri, Feb 1, 2013 at 9:50 AM, Antoine Pitrou <solipsis at pitrou.net> wrote:
> > On Thu, 31 Jan 2013 23:52:27 +0100 (CET)
> > matthias.klose <python-checkins at python.org> wrote:
> >> http://hg.python.org/cpython/rev/8ee6d96a1019
> >> changeset:   81859:8ee6d96a1019
> >> branch:      2.7
> >> parent:      81855:df9f8feb7444
> >> user:        doko at python.org
> >> date:        Thu Jan 31 23:52:03 2013 +0100
> >> summary:
> >>   - Issue #17086: Backport the patches from the 3.3 branch to cross-build
> >>   the package.
> >
> > You aren't supposed to add new features to bugfix branches. Did you
> > have a specific reason to do this?
> 
> One of the reasons for the long maintenance period on 2.7 is to keep
> it building as the underlying platforms change. With the rise of ARM
> systems, being able to reliably cross-build Python 2.7 for ARM from an
> x86_64 system is fairly important.

I would like to see a better argument for this. The rise of ARM systems
is the rise of ARM systems powerful enough to build Python without
cross-compiling (which is why we *now* have ARM buildbots).
The very small ARM systems which need cross-compiling have existed for
decades.

> That said, as a procedural point for build related new features in
> 2.7, I agree they should be proposed, with an explicit rationale, on
> python-dev before proceeding with the commit.

I think this huge changeset should be reverted. It's a complete failure
in terms of procedure and following the rules. "Just because it can be
useful" is not a good enough reason to violate our release model
without even asking.

Regards

Antoine.