I've got a really important Django backend that's still running on Python 2.7, which is no longer acceptable. My task now is to upgrade it to Python 3.14, along with all the necessary package updates. The codebase is pretty large, around 32,000 lines, and while I have a general idea of what needs to be done, I'm looking for suggestions to help make the transition smoother and less painful. Has anyone gone through a similar upgrade and have any advice or tips?
5 Answers
Before making changes, ensure you have tests in place. Upgrade your packages one by one and verify that the tests pass after each upgrade. Even though 32,000 lines might sound daunting, it's manageable if you take it step-by-step. If you're unfamiliar with certain dependencies, it's a good approach to flag areas of concern first.
Be prepared for some real challenges, especially with places where Django's APIs have changed since Python 2. You might even want to explore splitting your code into two separate branches: one that continues to support Python 2.7 and another for your new 3.x code, which allows you to gradually transition.
First off, start by upgrading your tests if you haven’t already. Use the tool `2to3.py` for the rest of your code, but make sure to only fix errors and avoid rewriting anything to make it 'modern' until it's working. Once you get it running, you can increase test coverage and target parts of the code that could benefit from newer features. You might consider targeting an intermediate version like Python 3.8, which is still commonly supported.
Consider just focusing on getting your Python code to run on 3.x first. Avoid major changes in dependencies at the same time; get the existing code working first. After that, you can tackle upgrading your libraries and framework, plus keep an eye on your database migrations.
Check out the official Python porting guide. Start by reading the release notes for every version and library you're upgrading. This can really help you identify what needs to change. It’s going to be a lot of work, but taking one step at a time will help you isolate any failures that crop up.

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