PEP: 494
Title: Python 3.6 Release Schedule
Author: Ned Deily <nad@python.org>
Status: Final
Type: Informational
Topic: Release
Created: 30-May-2015
Python-Version: 3.6


Abstract
========

This document describes the development and release schedule for
Python 3.6.  The schedule primarily concerns itself with PEP-sized
items.


Release Manager and Crew
========================

- 3.6 Release Manager: Ned Deily
- Windows installers: Steve Dower
- Mac installers: Ned Deily
- Documentation: Julien Palard, Georg Brandl


3.6 Lifespan
============

3.6 will receive `bugfix updates <https://devguide.python.org/devcycle/#maintenance-branches>`_
approximately every 3 months for about 24 months. Sometime after the release of
3.7.0 final, a final 3.6 bugfix update will be released.
After that, it is expected that
`security updates <https://devguide.python.org/devcycle/#security-branches>`_
(source only) will be released as needed until 5 years after
the release of 3.6 final, so until approximately 2021-12.

As of 2021-12-23, 3.6 has reached the
`end-of-life phase <https://devguide.python.org/devcycle/#end-of-life-branches>`_
of its release cycle. 3.6.15 was the final security release. The code base for
3.6 is now frozen and no further updates will be provided nor issues of any
kind will be accepted on the bug tracker.


Release Schedule
================

3.6.0 schedule
--------------

- 3.6 development begins: 2015-05-24
- 3.6.0 alpha 1: 2016-05-17
- 3.6.0 alpha 2: 2016-06-13
- 3.6.0 alpha 3: 2016-07-11
- 3.6.0 alpha 4: 2016-08-15
- 3.6.0 beta 1: 2016-09-12
  (No new features beyond this point.)
- 3.6.0 beta 2: 2016-10-10
- 3.6.0 beta 3: 2016-10-31
- 3.6.0 beta 4: 2016-11-21
- 3.6.0 candidate 1: 2016-12-06
- 3.6.0 candidate 2: 2016-12-16
- 3.6.0 final: 2016-12-23

3.6.1 schedule (first bugfix release)
-------------------------------------

- 3.6.1 candidate: 2017-03-05
- 3.6.1 final: 2017-03-21

3.6.2 schedule
--------------

- 3.6.2 candidate 1: 2017-06-17
- 3.6.2 candidate 2: 2017-07-07
- 3.6.2 final: 2017-07-17

3.6.3 schedule
--------------

- 3.6.3 candidate: 2017-09-19
- 3.6.3 final: 2017-10-03

3.6.4 schedule
--------------

- 3.6.4 candidate: 2017-12-05
- 3.6.4 final: 2017-12-19

3.6.5 schedule
--------------

- 3.6.5 candidate: 2018-03-13
- 3.6.5 final: 2018-03-28

3.6.6 schedule
--------------

- 3.6.6 candidate: 2018-06-12
- 3.6.6 final: 2018-06-27

3.6.7 schedule
--------------

- 3.6.7 candidate: 2018-09-26
- 3.6.7 candidate 2: 2018-10-13
- 3.6.7 final: 2018-10-20

3.6.8 schedule (last bugfix release)
------------------------------------

Last binary releases

- 3.6.8 candidate: 2018-12-11
- 3.6.8 final: 2018-12-24

3.6.9 schedule (first security-only release)
--------------------------------------------

Source only

- 3.6.9 candidate 1: 2019-06-18
- 3.6.9 final: 2019-07-02

3.6.10 schedule
---------------

- 3.6.10 candidate 1: 2019-12-11
- 3.6.10 final: 2019-12-18

3.6.11 schedule
---------------

- 3.6.11 candidate 1: 2020-06-15
- 3.6.11 final: 2020-06-27

3.6.12 schedule
---------------

- 3.6.12 final: 2020-08-17

3.6.13 schedule
---------------

- 3.6.13 final: 2021-02-15

3.6.14 schedule
---------------

- 3.6.14 final: 2021-06-28

3.6.15 schedule (last security-only release)
--------------------------------------------

- 3.6.15 final: 2021-09-04


Features for 3.6
================

Implemented changes for 3.6 (as of 3.6.0 beta 1):

* :pep:`468`, Preserving Keyword Argument Order
* :pep:`487`, Simpler customization of class creation
* :pep:`495`, Local Time Disambiguation
* :pep:`498`, Literal String Formatting
* :pep:`506`, Adding A Secrets Module To The Standard Library
* :pep:`509`, Add a private version to dict
* :pep:`515`, Underscores in Numeric Literals
* :pep:`519`, Adding a file system path protocol
* :pep:`520`, Preserving Class Attribute Definition Order
* :pep:`523`, Adding a frame evaluation API to CPython
* :pep:`524`, Make os.urandom() blocking on Linux (during system startup)
* :pep:`525`, Asynchronous Generators (provisional)
* :pep:`526`, Syntax for Variable Annotations (provisional)
* :pep:`528`, Change Windows console encoding to UTF-8 (provisional)
* :pep:`529`, Change Windows filesystem encoding to UTF-8 (provisional)
* :pep:`530`, Asynchronous Comprehensions


Copyright
=========

This document has been placed in the public domain.
