GNU Mailman

Mailman 2.1.13 requires Python 2.4

Asked by Dale Toney

We utilize RedHat's Satellite service for updates to our OS.
Through the current channel, we are currently at python-2.3.4-14.7.el4_8.2. We have been told that any security/bug fixes in later versions of Python are pushed down to the current release in the channel.
Mailman 2.1.13 has a minimum requirement of Python 2.4.
In order to go to RedHat and determine if the necessary components will be met with the current channel release, we need to know what Mailman 2.1.13 is needing from the Python 2.4 package as a minimum requirement.
Specifically what items in Python changelog for 2.4.
Thanks in advance.

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
GNU Mailman Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
Mark Sapiro
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Best Mark Sapiro (msapiro) said : 		#1

./configure tests the Python version and won't run if it's less than 2.4. To configure Mailman with a version less that 2.4, you'd have to change or remove this test.

As far as I can recall, the only thing in Mailman that requires 2.4 is the sibling lists feature which uses Python sets <http://docs.python.org/release/2.4/whatsnew/node2.html>. However, I just looked at the source and it appears that that code will work with Python 2.3 as it does "from sets import Set as set" if 'set' is not built-in. I have a vague feeling there may be something else, but I can't remember any specifics.

So, I don't think I can tell you off hand what if any Python 2.4 changes are required for Mailman 2.1.13. All I can say for sure is we made the decision for Mailman 2.1.12 that Python 2.4 would be the minimum, and since then we haven't been trying to maintain backward compatibility with Python 2.1 through 2.3, something we weren't too good at anyway, see <http://wiki.list.org/x/pYA9>.

You might consider installing Python 2.6.5 from source along side your existing Python 2.3, leaving Python 2.3 as the default python. Then you can configure Mailman to use python2.6. Or you could just install whatever RedHat Mailman package is current for el4.

Revision history for this message
Dale Toney (dale-toney) said : 		#2

Thanks Mark Sapiro, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
Dale Toney (dale-toney) said : 		#3

I appreciate the quick response and assistance.