python / python/cpython

Add `devel` field to `sys.version_info`

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#122,123 5 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub

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interpreter-core type-feature
Dominant language
Python
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Description

Feature or enhancement

Proposal:

The idea is to add a new field to sys.version_info to specify if we are on a development build (non-tagged commit). For backwards compatibility, sys.version_info should still only produce a 5-field sequence when unpacking.

Has this already been discussed elsewhere?

This is a minor feature, which does not need previous discussion elsewhere

Links to previous discussion of this feature:

Discussed in https://discuss.python.org/t/pep-739-static-description-file-for-build-details-of-python-installations/44572/67

Linked PRs
  • gh-122124
  • gh-122125

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reading the proposal, the linked discussion, and the linked PRs gh-122124 and gh-122125. Determine how the new development-build indicator should fit into sys.version_info while preserving five-field sequence unpacking; the work is done when that behavior is implemented and covered by the relevant CPython tests.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
backend
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
20/100

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