Python 2.7 and 3.4 support plan =============================== Python 2.7 EOL is fast approaching, with upstream support `ending in 2020 `__. Python 3.4's last release is scheduled for `March 2019 `__. pytest is one of the participating projects of the https://python3statement.org. The **pytest 4.6** series is the last to support Python 2.7 and 3.4, and was released in **June 2019**. **pytest 5.0** and onwards will support only Python 3.5+. Thanks to the `python_requires`_ ``setuptools`` option, Python 2.7 and Python 3.4 users using a modern ``pip`` version will install the last pytest ``4.6`` version automatically even if ``5.0`` or later are available on PyPI. While pytest ``5.0`` will be the new mainstream and development version, until **January 2020** the pytest core team plans to make bug-fix releases of the pytest ``4.6`` series by back-porting patches to the ``4.6-maintenance`` branch that affect Python 2 users. **After 2020**, the core team will no longer actively backport patches, but the ``4.6-maintenance`` branch will continue to exist so the community itself can contribute patches. The core team will be happy to accept those patches and make new ``4.6`` releases **until mid-2020**. .. _`python_requires`: https://packaging.python.org/guides/distributing-packages-using-setuptools/#python-requires Technical Aspects ----------------- The technical aspects of the Python 2.7 and 3.4 support plan (such as when releases will occurr, how to backport fixes, etc) is described in issue `#5275 `__.