This script takes in a set of dependencies and then figures out which of them are holding you up from porting to Python 3.

You can specify your dependencies in multiple ways::

caniusepython3 -r requirements.txt
caniusepython3 -m PKG-INFO
caniusepython3 -p numpy,scipy,ipython

The output of the script will tell you how many (implicit) dependencies you need to transition to Python 3 in order to allow you to make the same transition. It will also list what projects have no explicit dependency blocking their transition so you can ask them consider starting a port to Python 3.

On PyPI each project specifies various trove classifiers. There are various classifiers related to what version of Python a project can run on. E.g.:

Programming Language :: Python :: 3
Programming Language :: Python :: 3.0
Programming Language :: Python :: 3.1
Programming Language :: Python :: 3.2
Programming Language :: Python :: 3.3
Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4

As long as a trove classifier for some version of Python 3 is specified then the project is considered to support Python 3 (project owners: it is preferred you at least specify Programming Language :: Python :: 3 as that is how you end up listed on the Python3 Packages list on PyPI).

The other way is through a manual override in caniusepython3 itself. This project maintains a hard-coded list of projects which are considered ported because:

• They are now part of Python's standard library in some release of Python 3
• Their Python 3 port is under a different name
• They are missing a Python 3 trove classifier but have actually been ported

If any of these various requirements are met, then a project is considered to support Python 3.

Typically projects which have not switched to Python 3 yet are waiting for:

• A dependency to be ported to Python 3
• Someone to volunteer to put in the time and effort to do the port

Since caniusepython3 will tell you what dependencies are blocking a project that you depend on from being ported, you can try to port a project farther down your dependency graph to help a more direct dependency make the transition.

Which brings up the second point: volunteering to do a port. Most projects happily accept help, they just have not done the port yet because they have not had the time. Some projects are simply waiting for people to ask for it, so even speaking up politely and requesting a port can get the process started.

If you are looking for help to port a project, you can always search online for various sources of help. If you want a specific starting point there are HOWTOs in the Python documentation on porting pure Python modules and extension modules.