Strategy for Python version compatibility?

[smjoshiatglobus]

I was trying this project on Python 3.12 and discovered that it has removed bundled setuptools and with it pkg_resources. This breaks the recent version information change. What is the right way to fix this? I see these paths:

• Add setuptools to list of required packages to keep supporting old versions of python
• Switch to importlib.metadata to import version. This was probably "provisional" for 3.8 and 3.9 and became available in 3.10 link
• Switch to importlib-metadata for backward compatibility with 3.8.

I volunteer to make these changes, but need guidance!

The strategy question: what is your recommendation for maintaining compatibility with older versions of Python? It seems the new version of Pydicom will require at least 3.10 version of python.

[jcfr]

I suggest to remove setup.{py,cfg} and transition to pyproject.toml.

Relevant references:

• https://learn.scientific-python.org/development/tutorials/packaging/
• https://learn.scientific-python.org/development/guides/packaging-simple/

[smjoshiatglobus]

I, too, would like to move to pyproject.toml. I can include that change when I add one of the three packages I mentioned above.

[smjoshiatglobus]

See PR #57

[pchoisel]

Closing this with the merge of #57