It’s Time to Stop Using Python 3.8

Upgrade from Python 3.8 now! With support ending in October 2024, no more bugs or security fixes will be provided. Stay updated for security and compatibility.

Upgrading to a new software version can be a hassle. It doesn’t benefit users much since they care more about features and bug fixes, not the latest version number.

So, it’s not surprising that many people are still using Python 3.8. As of September 2024, around 14% of packages downloaded from PyPI work with Python 3.8. This includes automated downloads in CI environments. While it doesn’t mean 14% of applications use 3.8, it’s still about 250 million package installations in one day!

However, we can only delay upgrading for so long. For Python 3.8, it’s better to upgrade as soon as possible. Its lifecycle ends in October 2024, and after that:

• No more bug fixes.

• No more security patches.

Let’s take a closer look at why upgrading is important.