This appendix briefly summarizes changes made in recent releases of Python organized by the book editions where they first appeared, and gives links to their coverage in this book. It is intended as a reference for both readers of prior editions, as well as developers migrating from prior Python releases.
Here’s how changes in Python relate to this book’s recent editions:
This fifth edition of 2013 covers Python 3.3 and 2.7.
The fourth edition of 2009 covered Python 2.6 and 3.0 (with some 3.1 features).
The third edition of 2007 covered Python 2.5.
The first and second editions of 1999 and 2003 covered Pythons 2.0 and 2.2.
The predecessor of this book, 1996’s Programming Python, covered Python 1.3.
Hence, to see changes made in just this fifth edition, see the Python 2.7, 3.2, and 3.3 changes listed ahead. For changes incorporated into both the fourth and fifth editions (that is, since the third), also see Python 2.6, 3.0, and 3.1 changes here. Third edition language changes are listed very briefly too, though this seems of only historical value today.
Also note that this appendix focuses on major changes and book impacts, and is not intended as a complete guide to Python’s evolution. For the fuller story on changes applied in each new Python release, consult the “What’s New” documents that are part of its standard documentation set, and available at the Documentation page of python.org. Chapter 15 covers Python documentation and its manuals set.