# Python Version Requirement Update

## ✅ Updated Minimum Python Version

**Previous**: Python 3.8+  
**New**: Python 3.10+

---

## 🎯 Changes Made

### 1. GitHub Actions Workflow
**File**: `.github/workflows/test.yml`

Removed Python 3.8 and 3.9 from test matrix:
```yaml
# Before
python-version: ['3.8', '3.9', '3.10', '3.11', '3.12']

# After
python-version: ['3.10', '3.11', '3.12']
```

**Impact**: CI/CD now tests on 3 Python versions × 3 OS = 9 combinations (down from 15)

### 2. Package Configuration
**File**: `pyproject.toml`

Updated package metadata:
```toml
# Before
requires-python = ">=3.8"

# After
requires-python = ">=3.10"
```

Removed classifiers:
```toml
# Removed:
"Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8"
"Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9"

# Kept:
"Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10"
"Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11"
"Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12"
```

### 3. Tool Configuration
**File**: `pyproject.toml`

Updated tool target versions:

**Black:**
```toml
# Before
target-version = ['py38', 'py39', 'py310', 'py311', 'py312']

# After
target-version = ['py310', 'py311', 'py312']
```

**Ruff:**
```toml
# Before
target-version = "py38"

# After
target-version = "py310"
```

**MyPy:**
```toml
# Before
python_version = "3.8"

# After
python_version = "3.10"
```

### 4. Documentation
**Files**: `README.md`, `CONTRIBUTING.md`

Updated badge and requirements:
- README.md: Badge changed from "python-3.8+" to "python-3.10+"
- CONTRIBUTING.md: Prerequisites changed from "Python 3.8 or higher" to "Python 3.10 or higher"

---

## 📊 Testing Matrix Reduction

### Before
- **Python versions**: 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11, 3.12 (5 versions)
- **Operating systems**: Ubuntu, macOS, Windows (3 OSes)
- **Total combinations**: 5 × 3 = **15 test runs** per CI/CD

### After
- **Python versions**: 3.10, 3.11, 3.12 (3 versions)
- **Operating systems**: Ubuntu, macOS, Windows (3 OSes)
- **Total combinations**: 3 × 3 = **9 test runs** per CI/CD

**Benefit**: ~40% reduction in CI/CD time and resource usage

---

## 🎯 Rationale

### Why Drop Python 3.8 and 3.9?

1. **End of Life**:
   - Python 3.8: End of security support October 2024
   - Python 3.9: End of security support October 2025 (approaching)
   - Python 3.10: Supported until October 2026

2. **Modern Features**:
   - Python 3.10+ has better type hints (PEP 604 - Union types with `|`)
   - Improved error messages
   - Structural pattern matching
   - Better async/await improvements

3. **Dependencies**:
   - Modern dependencies (pydantic 2.0, httpx, mcp) work best with Python 3.10+
   - Reduces compatibility testing burden

4. **Industry Standard**:
   - Most modern Python packages now require 3.10+
   - Aligns with current Python ecosystem

---

## ✅ Compatibility

The SDK will now:
- ✅ **Work on**: Python 3.10, 3.11, 3.12
- ❌ **Not work on**: Python 3.8, 3.9 (pip install will fail with version error)
- ✅ **Tested on**: Ubuntu, macOS, Windows

---

## 📦 PyPI Package

When published, PyPI will show:
```
Requires: Python >=3.10
```

Users on Python 3.8 or 3.9 will get a clear error:
```
ERROR: Package requires Python >=3.10 but you have 3.8
```

---

## 🚀 Impact

### Users
- Must use Python 3.10+ to install the package
- Clear error message if using older Python
- Better performance and features

### Developers
- Faster CI/CD pipeline
- Can use modern Python features
- Reduced testing burden

### CI/CD
- 40% fewer test combinations
- Faster feedback on PRs
- Lower resource usage

---

## 📝 Files Modified

| File | Change |
|------|--------|
| `.github/workflows/test.yml` | Removed 3.8, 3.9 from matrix |
| `pyproject.toml` | Updated `requires-python`, classifiers, tool versions |
| `README.md` | Updated Python badge |
| `CONTRIBUTING.md` | Updated prerequisites |

---

## ✅ Verification

To verify the changes:

```bash
# Check package metadata
grep "requires-python" pyproject.toml
# Should show: requires-python = ">=3.10"

# Check CI configuration
grep "python-version" .github/workflows/test.yml
# Should show: ['3.10', '3.11', '3.12']
```

---

## 🎉 Result

**The SDK now officially supports Python 3.10, 3.11, and 3.12 only.**

This aligns with modern Python standards and reduces maintenance burden while ensuring the best compatibility with current dependencies.
