Python 2.3 Beta 1 is out.

A.M. Kuchling has put together his usual What's New in Python 2.3 document.

I particularly like the inclusion of the logging and csv modules in the standard library. I already use both of these, so I'm glad they are now the standard.

Also good - the string method changes. One of these was my feature request - the optional arguments on the strip method and its siblings. This was backported to 2.2.2 - it was added to the string method, but not to the string module function, though the documentation incorrectly said that it was added to both. Given the frequency with which this comes up on c.l.py, it seems that this is a much-used feature already!

I'm also keen on extended slices, importing from zip archives (i.e. JAR files for Python), and the if 'fred' in 'bill and fred' thing.

Generators are now enabled by default - I've been using these a lot.