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Quantifying the transition from python 2 to 3: an empirical study of python applications

Authors:

Brian A. Malloy,

James F. PowerAuthors Info & Claims

ESEM '17: Proceedings of the 11th ACM/IEEE International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement

Pages 314 - 323

https://doi.org/10.1109/ESEM.2017.45

Published: 09 November 2017 Publication History

Abstract

Background: Python is one of the most popular modern programming languages. In 2008 its authors introduced a new version of the language, Python 3.0, that was not backward compatible with Python 2, initiating a transitional phase for Python software developers. Aims: The study described in this paper investigates the degree to which Python software developers are making the transition from Python 2 to Python 3. Method: We have developed a Python compliance analyser, PyComply, and have assembled a large corpus of Python applications. We use PyComply to measure and quantify the degree to which Python 3 features are being used, as well as the rate and context of their adoption. Results: In fact, Python software developers are not exploiting the new features and advantages of Python 3, but rather are choosing to retain backward compatibility with Python 2. Conclusions: Python developers are confining themselves to a language subset, governed by the diminishing intersection of Python 2, which is not under development, and Python 3, which is under development with new features being introduced as the language continues to evolve.

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Cited By

Dilhara MKetkar ADig D(2021)Understanding Software-2.0ACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology10.1145/345347830:4(1-42)Online publication date: 23-Jul-2021
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3453478
Mateus BMartinez M(2020)On the adoption, usage and evolution of Kotlin features in Android developmentProceedings of the 14th ACM / IEEE International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement (ESEM)10.1145/3382494.3410676(1-12)Online publication date: 5-Oct-2020
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3382494.3410676
Malloy BPower J(2019)An empirical analysis of the transition from Python 2 to Python 3Empirical Software Engineering10.1007/s10664-018-9637-224:2(751-778)Online publication date: 1-Apr-2019
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/s10664-018-9637-2

Quantifying the transition from python 2 to 3: an empirical study of python applications
1. Software and its engineering
  1. Software notations and tools
    1. General programming languages

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Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

cover image ACM Conferences

ESEM '17: Proceedings of the 11th ACM/IEEE International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement

November 2017

481 pages

ISBN:9781509040391

General Chair:
Ayse Bener
Ryerson University, Canada
,
Program Chairs:
Burak Turhan
Brunel University, UK
,
Stefan Biffl
Technische Universität Wien, Austria

Sponsors

SIGSOFT: ACM Special Interest Group on Software Engineering
IEEE-CS\DATC: IEEE Computer Society

Publisher

IEEE Press

Publication History

Published: 09 November 2017

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ESEM '17

Sponsor:

SIGSOFT
IEEE-CS\DATC

ESEM '17: ACM/IEEE International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement

November 9 - 10, 2017

Ontario, Markham, Canada

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Overall Acceptance Rate 130 of 594 submissions, 22%

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Cited By

Dilhara MKetkar ADig D(2021)Understanding Software-2.0ACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology10.1145/345347830:4(1-42)Online publication date: 23-Jul-2021
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3453478
Mateus BMartinez M(2020)On the adoption, usage and evolution of Kotlin features in Android developmentProceedings of the 14th ACM / IEEE International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement (ESEM)10.1145/3382494.3410676(1-12)Online publication date: 5-Oct-2020
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3382494.3410676
Malloy BPower J(2019)An empirical analysis of the transition from Python 2 to Python 3Empirical Software Engineering10.1007/s10664-018-9637-224:2(751-778)Online publication date: 1-Apr-2019
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/s10664-018-9637-2

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