Why Python 4 May Never Arrive – Guido van Rossum’s Perspective

"Don't hope for Python 4.0; it may never happen." — Guido van Rossum

On January 1 2020, Python 2 reached end‑of‑life, marking the full transition to Python 3 and sparking community discussion about a possible Python 4 schedule.

Van Rossum once tweeted that if Python 4 ever appears, the transition from 3 to 4 would resemble the shift from 1 to 2, not the disruptive jump from 2 to 3.

In a Microsoft Reactor interview, he stated that Python 4 might not exist at all, noting that the core team has little interest and may continue versioning up to 3.33.

He did not completely rule out Python 4, suggesting that a major incompatibility with C extensions or the removal of the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) could force an upgrade.

Instead, the focus remains on incremental improvements: Python 3.10, the upcoming 3.11 with significant speed gains, and a strict annual release schedule (3.10 → 3.11 → 3.12, etc.) before any potential 4.0.

Van Rossum left Dropbox in 2018, retired briefly, and joined Microsoft in November 2020 to help users get the most out of Python across platforms.

He emphasized that accelerating Python is a core priority, aiming to double CPython performance in 3.11 and further improve it in 3.12 and 3.13.

The Pyston project, originally from Dropbox, now open‑source, offers a 30% speed boost over CPython 3.8.8.

Van Rossum also praised Rust for improving C++ code and finds Go the most interesting language comparable to Python.

He highlighted the growing adoption of optional static typing (gradual typing) in Python, noting influence from TypeScript and the desire to learn from its successes.

Reference: https://www.tectalk.co/why-python-4-0-might-never-arrive-according-to-its-creator/