Drop Python 3.10/3.11 support, require Python 3.12+

- Update requires-python to >=3.12 (no upper bound)
- Add Python 3.14 to classifiers and CI test matrix
- Update GitHub workflows: unit-testing, functional-testing, release
- Update documentation: README.md, CLAUDE.md, .claude/ protocols
- mypy now targets Python 3.12

This enables use of Python 3.12+ features like buffer protocol
improvements for future zero-copy parsing optimizations.

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>

Author: thomas-mangin

.claude/CI_TESTING.md

@@ -60,5 +60,5 @@ killall -9 Python  # macOS uses capital P
 All must pass:
 - Linting (Python 3.12)
 - Type checking (Python 3.12)
-- Unit tests (Python 3.10-3.13)
-- Functional tests (Python 3.10-3.13)
+- Unit tests (Python 3.12-3.14)
+- Functional tests (Python 3.12-3.14)

.claude/CODING_STANDARDS.md

@@ -31,13 +31,13 @@
 
 ---
 
-## Python 3.10+ Compatibility (MANDATORY)
+## Python 3.12+ Compatibility (MANDATORY)
 
 ### Type Annotations
 
-ExaBGP 6.0 requires Python 3.10+, enabling modern type annotation syntax:
+ExaBGP 6.0 requires Python 3.12+, enabling modern type annotation syntax:
 
-✅ **CORRECT (Python 3.10+ style - preferred):**
+✅ **CORRECT (Python 3.12+ style - preferred):**
 ```python
 def func(x: int | str) -> bool | None:
     data: dict[str, list[int]] = {}
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ return cast(int, untrusted_value)
 
 ## Quick Checklist
 
-- [ ] Python 3.10+ syntax (prefer `int | str` over `Union[int, str]`)
+- [ ] Python 3.12+ syntax (prefer `int | str` over `Union[int, str]`)
 - [ ] Avoid `| None` class attributes when possible
 - [ ] Fix type errors at root cause, avoid `# type: ignore`
 - [ ] Only use `cast()` when preceded by runtime type check (isinstance/hasattr)

.claude/ESSENTIAL_PROTOCOLS.md

@@ -213,10 +213,10 @@ uv run pytest tests/unit/path/to/test.py -v  # Should FAIL
 
 ### 4. Coding Standards
 
-**Core principle:** Python 3.10+, strict mypy, stable BGP APIs
+**Core principle:** Python 3.12+, strict mypy, stable BGP APIs
 
 ✅ **Required:**
-- Python 3.10+ syntax: `int | str` NOT `Union[int, str]`
+- Python 3.12+ syntax: `int | str` NOT `Union[int, str]`
 - NO code requiring mypy config changes
 - BGP APIs: keep `negotiated` parameter (stable API, unused OK)
 - Fix type errors at root cause, avoid `# type: ignore`

.claude/README.md

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ This single file contains core rules that apply to ALL interactions:
 - Verification before claiming success
 - Communication style (terse, emoji-prefixed)
 - Testing requirements (./qa/bin/test_everything)
-- Coding standards essentials (Python 3.10+, mypy)
+- Coding standards essentials (Python 3.12+, mypy)
 - Session start workflow
 - Contextual protocol loading guide
 

.github/workflows/container.yml

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ on:
     workflows:
       - "Unit Testing"
       - "Linting"
-      - "Testing (Python 3.8 to 3.12)"
+      - "Testing (Python 3.12+)"
     branches:
       - "main"
       - "5.0"

.github/workflows/functional-testing.yml

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-name: Testing (Python 3.10 to 3.13)
+name: Testing (Python 3.12+)
 
 on:
   push:
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        python-version: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13"]
+        python-version: ["3.12", "3.13", "3.14"]
         os: ["ubuntu-latest"]
 
     steps:

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -18,10 +18,10 @@ jobs:
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
 
-      - name: Set up Python 3.8
+      - name: Set up Python 3.12
         uses: actions/setup-python@v6
         with:
-          python-version: 3.8
+          python-version: "3.12"
 #     - name: Build
 #       run: |
 #         make init build

.github/workflows/unit-testing.yml

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        python-version: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13"]
+        python-version: ["3.12", "3.13", "3.14"]
         os: ["ubuntu-latest"]
 
     steps:

CLAUDE.md

@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ exabgp_reactor_asyncio=true ./sbin/exabgp config.conf
 
 ## Key Requirements
 
-**Python 3.10+ ONLY:**
+**Python 3.12+ ONLY:**
 - Prefer `int | str` over `Union[int, str]`
 - Prefer `str | None` over `Optional[str]`
 - See `.claude/CODING_STANDARDS.md`
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ Before declaring success:
 - [ ] `git status` reviewed
 - [ ] Plan files updated (if working on a plan)
 - [ ] User approval for commit/push
-- [ ] Python 3.10+ syntax
+- [ ] Python 3.12+ syntax
 - [ ] No asyncio introduced
 
 Before ending session:

README.md

@@ -354,11 +354,11 @@ Documentation contributions are genuinely welcomed! Even small improvements help
 
 ### Requirements
 
-- **Python 3.10+** required for ExaBGP 6.0 (supports versions 3.10 through 3.13)
+- **Python 3.12+** required for ExaBGP 6.0 (supports versions 3.12, 3.13, 3.14)
 - **No asyncio**: Uses custom reactor pattern predating asyncio adoption
 - **Compatibility**: Focus on reliability over adopting latest Python features
 
-**Version 3.x** supported Python 2 only. **Version 4.x** introduced Python 3 support while maintaining Python 2 compatibility (minimum: Python 3.6). **Version 5.0** requires Python 3.8 or later. **Version 6.0** requires Python 3.10 or later, enabling use of modern type annotation syntax (`int | str` unions) and other language improvements.
+**Version 3.x** supported Python 2 only. **Version 4.x** introduced Python 3 support while maintaining Python 2 compatibility (minimum: Python 3.6). **Version 5.0** requires Python 3.8 or later. **Version 6.0** requires Python 3.12 or later, enabling use of modern type annotation syntax, buffer protocol improvements, and other language features.
 
 ExaBGP is nearly as old as Python 3. A lot has changed since 2009; the application does not use Python 3's async-io (as we run a homemade async core engine). It may never do as development slowed, and our primary goal is ensuring reliability for current and new users.