Drop formal support for Python 3.6

.github/workflows/build.yml

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-20.04 # Use ubuntu-latest when https://github.com/actions/setup-python/issues/544 is fixed
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        python-version: ['3.6', '3.7', '3.8', '3.9', '3.10', '3.11']
+        python-version: ['3.7', '3.8', '3.9', '3.10', '3.11']
 
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2

.github/workflows/python-publish-to-test-pypi.yml

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-20.04 # Use ubuntu-latest when https://github.com/actions/setup-python/issues/544 is fixed
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        python-version: ['3.6', '3.7', '3.8', '3.9', '3.10', '3.11']
+        python-version: ['3.7', '3.8', '3.9', '3.10', '3.11']
 
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2

.pylintrc

@@ -500,5 +500,5 @@ min-public-methods=2
 
 # Exceptions that will emit a warning when being caught. Defaults to
 # "BaseException, Exception".
-overgeneral-exceptions=BaseException,
-                       Exception
+# overgeneral-exceptions=BaseException,
+#                        Exception

CHANGES

@@ -4,6 +4,14 @@ Enhancements:
   "rules" keyword arguments to the constructor.
   Credit and my thanks go to https://github.com/leviem1!
 
+BREAKING CHANGES:
+* Support for Python 3.6 has been dropped.  This is forced by incompatibilities
+  discovered with the latest version of pytest and because dependencies like
+  dateutil and ruamel-yaml-clib no longer support Python 3.6.  Support for
+  Python 3.7 is tepid.  While pytest is still working with Python 3.7, other
+  dependencies are no longer supporting Python 3.7; however, the extensive
+  tests for yamlpath show no issues with them, so far.
+
 3.8.1
 Bug Fixes:
 * Fixed issue #220 reported by https://github.com/abramov-oleg wherein novel

README.md

@@ -271,10 +271,11 @@ ephemeral or longer-lasting virtual Python environments.
 ### Requirements
 
 This project requires [Python](https://www.python.org/) 3.  It is rigorously
-tested against Pythons 3.6 through 3.11.  Most operating systems and
-distributions have access to Python 3 even if only Python 2 -- or no Python, at
-all -- came pre-installed.  It is generally safe to have more than one version
-of Python on your system at the same time, especially when using
+tested against Pythons 3.7 through 3.11 (support for Python 3.6 was dropped
+10 FEB 2024).  Most operating systems and distributions have access to Python
+3 even if only Python 2 -- or no Python, at all -- came pre-installed.  It is
+generally safe to have more than one version of Python on your system at the
+same time, especially when using
 [virtual Python environments](https://docs.python.org/3/library/venv.html).
 
 *yamlpath* depends on *ruamel.yaml* (derived from and greatly extending PyYAML)

run-tests.sh

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ if ! [ -d tests -a -d yamlpath ]; then
 fi
 
 if [ 1 -gt "$#" ]; then
-	echo "You must specify at least one Python version.  Space-delimit multiples like: $0 3.6 3.7 3.8" >&2
+	echo "You must specify at least one Python version.  Space-delimit multiples like: $0 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11" >&2
 	exit 2
 fi
 

setup.py

@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
     classifiers=[
         "Development Status :: 5 - Production/Stable",
         "License :: OSI Approved :: ISC License (ISCL)",
-        "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6",
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7",
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8",
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9",
@@ -43,7 +42,7 @@
             "yaml-diff = yamlpath.commands.yaml_diff:main",
         ]
     },
-    python_requires=">3.6.0",
+    python_requires=">3.7.0",
     install_requires=[
         "ruamel.yaml>0.17.5,!=0.17.18,<=0.17.21",
         "python-dateutil<=3"