[feature] Add python 3.8 support for flymyai-client

[teith]

FlyMyAI is positioned as the fastest AI inference service globally, offering unparalleled speed and scalability for deploying neural networks and AI applications. However, the current Python client library requirement of Python 3.10+ unnecessarily limits our potential user base and hinders adoption. This issue proposes adding support for Python 3.8 to significantly expand our compatibility and make FlyMyAI accessible to a broader range of users and projects.

Rationale for Python 3.8 Support:

1. Long-Term Support (LTS) and Enterprise Adoption: Python 3.8 was released in October 2019 and is still widely used in enterprise environments due to its stability and long-term support status. Many large organizations have standardized on Python 3.8 for their production systems and are hesitant to upgrade to newer versions without extensive testing and validation. By supporting Python 3.8, FlyMyAI can tap into this large enterprise market, allowing companies to leverage our high-performance inference capabilities without disrupting their existing technology stacks.

2. Legacy System Compatibility: Numerous legacy systems and older projects are still running on Python 3.8. These systems often have complex dependencies and upgrading to Python 3.10+ may not be feasible or cost-effective in the short term. By offering Python 3.8 support, FlyMyAI can provide a path for these legacy systems to access cutting-edge AI inference capabilities without requiring a full Python upgrade, which could be risky or time-consuming.

3. Scientific and Research Community Needs: Many scientific and research institutions rely on specific software stacks that are optimized for Python 3.8. This is particularly true in fields like bioinformatics, climate modeling, and high-energy physics, where custom libraries and tools may not yet be compatible with Python 3.10+. Supporting Python 3.8 would allow FlyMyAI to better serve the scientific community and potentially accelerate research in critical domains.

4. Cloud Provider and Managed Service Compatibility: Some popular cloud providers and managed services still offer Python 3.8 as their default or recommended version. For example, certain versions of AWS Lambda and Google Cloud Functions have Python 3.8 as a supported runtime. By aligning with these widely-used cloud services, FlyMyAI can seamlessly integrate into existing cloud-native architectures and serverless applications.

5. Gradual Adoption Strategy: While Python 3.10+ offers new features and improvements, many organizations prefer a gradual adoption strategy for new Python versions. Supporting Python 3.8 allows these organizations to start using FlyMyAI immediately while planning their Python upgrade path. This approach can significantly lower the barrier to entry and accelerate FlyMyAI's market penetration.

6. Compatibility with Popular Frameworks and Libraries: Many popular machine learning frameworks and libraries still maintain compatibility with Python 3.8. For instance, TensorFlow 2.x and PyTorch 1.x both support Python 3.8. By aligning with these widely-used frameworks, FlyMyAI can ensure seamless integration into existing ML pipelines and workflows.

7. Educational Institutions and Learning Environments: Many educational institutions and online learning platforms use Python 3.8 in their curricula and development environments. Supporting this version would make FlyMyAI more accessible to students, educators, and learners who are working with AI and machine learning concepts. This could foster innovation and help build a community of future FlyMyAI users.

8. Reduced Friction for Open-Source Projects: Numerous open-source projects in the AI and machine learning space still target Python 3.8 as their minimum supported version. By supporting Python 3.8, FlyMyAI can more easily integrate with these projects, potentially leading to community-driven integrations, plugins, and extensions that could enhance the FlyMyAI ecosystem.

9. Backwards Compatibility and Future-Proofing: Implementing support for Python 3.8 would likely ensure compatibility with Python 3.9 as well, further broadening the potential user base. Additionally, this backwards compatibility effort would establish a precedent for maintaining support for older Python versions, which could be valuable as the Python ecosystem continues to evolve.

10. Competitive Advantage: Many competing AI inference services may only support the latest Python versions. By offering Python 3.8 support, FlyMyAI can differentiate itself in the market and attract users who require this compatibility. This could be a significant selling point for organizations that are constrained by their current Python version but still want to leverage state-of-the-art AI inference capabilities.

11. Simplified Continuous Integration and Deployment: Many CI/CD pipelines and automated testing environments are still configured for Python 3.8. Supporting this version would allow developers to more easily integrate FlyMyAI into their existing development and deployment workflows without necessitating changes to their CI/CD infrastructure.

12. Broader Package Manager Compatibility: Some package managers and virtual environment tools may have limitations or issues with Python 3.10+. Supporting Python 3.8 ensures better compatibility with a wider range of package management solutions, making it easier for users to integrate FlyMyAI into their projects regardless of their preferred environment management tools.

13. Increased Adoption in Embedded Systems and IoT: Python 3.8 is still commonly used in embedded systems and IoT devices due to its stability and lower resource requirements. Supporting this version would enable FlyMyAI to be more easily integrated into edge computing scenarios and IoT applications that require AI inference capabilities.

14. Alignment with Data Science and Analytics Tools: Many data science and analytics tools, such as certain versions of Jupyter notebooks and data visualization libraries, are optimized for Python 3.8. Supporting this version would allow data scientists and analysts to seamlessly incorporate FlyMyAI into their existing workflows and data processing pipelines.

15. Easier Migration from Competing Services: Organizations currently using competing AI inference services that support Python 3.8 would find it easier to migrate to FlyMyAI if we also support this version. This could help in acquiring new customers who are looking for better performance but are constrained by their current Python version.

Implementation Considerations:

1. Minimal Code Changes: The core functionality of the FlyMyAI client likely doesn't rely heavily on Python 3.10+ specific features. Adapting the code for Python 3.8 compatibility should require minimal changes.

2. Testing Infrastructure: Implement comprehensive testing across Python 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, and newer versions to ensure consistent behavior and performance.

3. Documentation Updates: Clearly communicate the expanded version support in all documentation, README files, and package metadata.

4. Continuous Integration: Add Python 3.8 to the CI pipeline to catch any potential compatibility issues early in the development process.

5. Performance Benchmarking: Conduct thorough performance testing to ensure that supporting Python 3.8 does not negatively impact the speed and efficiency that FlyMyAI is known for.

Conclusion: Adding support for Python 3.8 to the FlyMyAI client library would significantly expand our potential user base, reduce barriers to adoption, and reinforce our position as the most accessible and versatile AI inference service in the market. While maintaining compatibility with older Python versions requires some additional development and testing effort, the benefits in terms of increased adoption, user satisfaction, and market penetration far outweigh the costs. By embracing a wider range of Python versions, FlyMyAI can truly live up to its promise of being the fastest and most accessible AI inference platform for all users, regardless of their current technology stack or constraints. This inclusive approach aligns perfectly with our mission to democratize access to high-performance AI capabilities and will undoubtedly contribute to the long-term success and growth of FlyMyAI in the competitive AI services landscape.

[D1-3105]

3.8 will be available in flymyai==1.0.16