What's Up Python? Setuptools Breaks, a Better PDB, CPython on CalVer

Setuptools recently released version 72.0, which removed the test command from package installations, leading to many packages becoming uninstallable. This change, proposed for deprecation in 2017, faced backlash, prompting a quick release of version 72.1 to restore the functionality. Developers are encouraged to transition to using pyproject.toml and the wheel format for better stability. At the Python Language Summit 2024, core developer Tian Gao proposed enhancements for the Python Debugger (PDB), including improved code visibility, color support, and better handling of various debugging scenarios. The proposal aims to modernize PDB, making it more user-friendly and efficient. Additionally, a proposal for calendar versioning (CalVer) was discussed, suggesting a shift from the current versioning system to a year-based format to clarify release timelines and deprecation warnings. Polars, a Rust-based alternative to pandas, has reached a stable 1.0 release, offering improved performance and a more consistent API. Facebook's Segment Anything Model (SAM) has also been updated to version 2, now supporting video segmentation. Lastly, there is ongoing debate about the challenges of Python development for mobile platforms, particularly regarding compliance with app store requirements, highlighted by a recent rejection of Python 3.12 due to a module issue. Suggestions include adding compliance options to the release process to address these challenges.