[petsc-dev] python3 migration [of configure]

[Jed Brown]

I've tried running futurize and python-modernize on BuildSystem.
Futurize appears to be better supported and produces code that does not
depend on the "six" module.  The changes are pretty cosmetic and
sensible.  There are only a couple files that import "from future" -- if
we removed that dependency manually then I think configure would work
with base Python (no installed libraries).  This requires committing to
python-2.6 minimum.  I think we should do it now in 'master'.

Satish Balay <balay at mcs.anl.gov> writes:

> Jed probably has a plan for this. The info at this link appears useful.
>
> https://lwn.net/Articles/747654
> https://fosdem.org/2018/schedule/event/python3/
>
> Noteable:
> "Python 2.7 support was extended from 2015 to 2020"
>
> Satish