Python 3.12 doesn't support distutils

[Julian-O]

Versions

• Python: 3.12rc2
• OS: Ubuntu
• Buildozer: master

Description

I did an experiment; I added '3.12.0-rc.2' to the Python matrix in test_python.yml to see if any wave of pain is coming down the pipe.

Indeed there is:

buildozer/targets/android.py:36: in
from distutils.version import LooseVersion
E ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'distutils'

What happened? PEP 632 happened:

In Python 3.12, distutils will no longer be installed by make install or any of the first-party distribution. Third-party redistributors should no longer include distutils in their bundles or repositories.

LooseVersion has been giving deprecation warnings anyway. Time for a replacement.

[misl6]

On kivy/kivy#8070 we made use of packaging.version, as suggested by PEP632 migration advice.

[Julian-O]

In kivy/python-for-android#2866, I also used packaging.version - packaging was already installed.

In that case, I investigated the version numbers being used and confirmed they conformed to the tighter definitions of packaging. The library has a LegacyVersion and a parse(), so I imagine it could be made to work, but I haven't done this. So some effort to be done there. I wanted to raise the issue because I didn't have time to investigate immediately.

Also, I don't think Buildozer has packaging installed, put it does have libs/version.py . So, could use that, maybe. Except, I just checked and it appears to have been copied from packaging at least 8 years ago.

So the task list:

• Check that in practice, the tools versions confirm to packaging rules.
• Figure if we need to call parse() or just packaging.Version()
• Delete the unmaintained version of the library from source code.
• Add a packaging dependency to setup.py
  • Perhaps under [android] extras? Doesn't seem warranted just to avoid ios developers needing to have it automatically pip installed when they don't need it.
• Update any existing clients - i.e. android.py
• Commit '3.12.0-rc.2' to the matrix, to be updated to `3.12' when GitHub supports it.

[misl6]

Also, I don't think Buildozer has packaging installed, put it does have libs/version.py . So, could use that, maybe. Except, I just checked and it appears to have been copied from packaging at least 8 years ago.

Do we really want to continue vendoring this outdated code? I do not think so. Better migrating to packaging IMHO, if that works for us.

[Julian-O]

Do we really want to continue vendoring this outdated code? I do not think so. Better migrating to packaging IMHO, if that works for us.

I absolutely agree. My task list included:

• Delete the unmaintained version of the library from source code.

by which I mean get rid of libs/version.py

[Bill-Robinson63]

So.... How do I make buildozer work for me now? Quickest, easiest...

[eMPee584]

@misl6 maybe a new release should be cut that actually contains these changes, as more and more distros ship python 3.12 by default and 1.5.0 fails on all these.

So.... How do I make buildozer work for me now? Quickest, easiest...

pipx/pip3 install […] git+https://github.com/kivy/buildozer will install current master branch (1.5.1.dev0 as of now) which works with python 3.12.. @Bill-Robinson63