Second alpha for Python 3.2 arrives

Continuing the efforts to improve and stabilise Python 3.x, the developers have released the second alpha of Python 3.2. Since the moratorium on changing Python 3's language syntax from last November is still in effect, there are no changes in the language or its built-in types in this release. Alpha 2 builds on August's initial alpha release which saw improvements in handling the Python Global Interpreter Lock for better multithreading.

Newly implemented in alpha 2 is PEP 391, which allows for logging to be configured from a dictionary and thus makes it sufficiently flexible to work with YAML or JSON configuration files. Numerous other fixes and enhancements are included in the second alpha which are detailed in the NEWS file for the release, such as fixes for memory leaks, crashes and other errors. A summary of what is planned, at least so far, for Python 3.2 is available in "What's New In Python 3.2".

As with all development releases, Python 3.2 alpha 2 is not recommended for production use and testers are encouraged to report bugs. Python 3.2 alpha 2 can be downloaded as a source tar archive, Windows x86 or Windows x86-64 installer or 32 bit Mac OS X installer from the announcement page. A 64-bit installer for Mac OS X was not made available and the developers say, again, it will be available in the next alpha.

(djwm)