Re: Bootstrap with old Python

[Bruno Haible]

Hi Jeffrey,

> I'm testing Wget2. I believe it uses Gnulib from master.
> 
> Older Python does not respond to 'python --version':
> 
> Unknown option: --
> usage: python [option] ... [-c cmd | file | -] [arg] ...
> Try `python -h' for more information.
> ./bootstrap: Error: 'python' not found
> 
> 'python -V' produces expected error messages, but it requires a patch
> of bootstrap:
> 
> ./bootstrap: Error: 'python' version == Python 2.3.4 is too old
> ./bootstrap:        'python' version >= 2 is required
> ./bootstrap: Please install the prerequisite programs

I don't think there are many users in the same situation than you.
Reason: Most distros have been shipping Python 2.7.x (minimum) for a
long time [1].

Also, Python 3 can be assumed from next year on, since Python 2 is
end-of-life this year [2].

Additionally, 'bootstrap' is a development tool. Developers tend
to have newer tools installed than production systems have.

Bruno

[1] https://repology.org/project/python/versions
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_(programming_language)#History