Drop support for Python 3.4 and update package/compiler minimum versions

* Starting now, only Python >= 3.5 is support.

* Document numpy >= 1.12, scipy >= 0.19, matplotlib >= 2.0 requirements.

* Make CMake v3.1 requirement official.

* Require gcc 5 or clang 3.5 as the minimum compiler versions on Linux.
  This is a soft requirement: It's documented this way, but CI tests
  continue with GCC 4.8 in C++11 mode. It won't be possible to drop
  this and fully upgrade to C++14 until conda-forge updates their
  toolchain to GCC 5.

CMakeLists.txt

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.0)
+cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.1)
 project(pybinding)
 
 if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)

changelog.md

@@ -2,6 +2,15 @@
 
 ### v0.9.0 | in development
 
+##### Updated requirements
+
+* This version includes extensive internal improvements and raises the minimum requirements for
+  installation. Starting with this release, only Python >= 3.5 is supported. Newer versions of the
+  scientific Python packages are also required: numpy >= 1.12, scipy >= 0.19 and matplotlib >= 2.0.
+
+* On Linux, the minimum compiler requirements have also been increased to get access to C++14 for
+  the core of the library. To compile from source, you'll need GCC >= 5.0 or clang >= 3.5.
+
 ##### New features
 
 * Improved support for models with multiple orbitals, spins and any additional degrees of freedom.

cppcore/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.0)
+cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.1)
 project(pybinding_cppcore)
 
 list(APPEND CMAKE_MODULE_PATH "${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/cmake")

cppmodule/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 set(PYBIND11_CPP_STANDARD ${PB_CPP_STANDARD} CACHE STRING "Match core library")
-set(PYBIND11_PYTHON_VERSION 3.4 CACHE STRING "Minimum required Python version")
+set(PYBIND11_PYTHON_VERSION 3.5 CACHE STRING "Minimum required Python version")
 add_subdirectory(deps/pybind11 EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
 
 pybind11_add_module(_pybinding THIN_LTO

docs/benchmarks/system_build.py

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 The considered system sizes can be changed in the `__name__ == '__main__'` section at
 the bottom.
 
-Requires Python >= 3.4 and the following packages which can be installed using pip:
+Requires Python >= 3.5 and the following packages which can be installed using pip:
   - memory_profiler
   - psutil (memory_profiler will be slow without it)
 

docs/install/advanced.rst

@@ -30,9 +30,10 @@ installing some dependencies.
 
 Building Pybinding from source is the only option on Linux.
 
-#. Make sure you have gcc and g++ v4.8 or newer. To check, run `g++ --version` in your terminal.
-   Refer to instruction from your Linux distribution in case you need to upgrade.
-#. Install `CMake`_ >= v3.0 from their website or your package manager,
+#. Make sure you have gcc and g++ v5.0 or newer. To check, run `g++ --version` in your terminal.
+   Refer to instruction from your Linux distribution in case you need to upgrade. Alternatively,
+   you can use clang v3.5 or newer for compilation instead of gcc.
+#. Install `CMake`_ >= v3.1 from their website or your package manager,
    e.g. `apt-get install cmake`.
 #. Install numpy, scipy and matplotlib with the minimal versions as
    :doc:`stated previously </install/index>`. The easiest way is to use your package manager,
@@ -73,8 +74,8 @@ Once you have everything, follow the steps below to compile and install Pybindin
 
 .. rubric:: Linux
 
-You'll need gcc/g++ >= v4.8 and CMake >= v3.0. See the previous section for details. If you have
-everything, Pybinding can be installed from the latest source code using pip::
+You'll need gcc/g++ >= v5.0 (or clang >= v3.5) and CMake >= v3.1. See the previous section for
+details. If you have everything, Pybinding can be installed from the latest source code using pip::
 
     pip3 install git+https://github.com/dean0x7d/pybinding.git
 

docs/install/index.rst

@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@ Installation
 
 Pybinding can be installed on Windows, Linux or Mac, with the following prerequisites:
 
-* `Python`_ 3.4 or newer (Python 2.x is not supported)
+* `Python`_ 3.5 or newer (Python 2.x is not supported)
 * The `SciPy`_ stack of scientific packages, with required versions:
 
-  * numpy >= v1.9
-  * scipy >= v0.15
-  * matplotlib >= v1.5
+  * numpy >= v1.12
+  * scipy >= v0.19
+  * matplotlib >= v2.0
 
-* If you're using Linux, you'll also need GCC >= v4.8 and CMake >= v3.0.
+* If you're using Linux, you'll also need GCC >= v5.0 (or clang >= v3.5) and CMake >= v3.1.
 
 You can install all of this in two ways:
 

docs/install/quick.rst

@@ -45,12 +45,12 @@ get started. To run a script file, e.g. `example1.py`, enter the following comma
 Linux
 -----
 
-You will need gcc and g++ 4.8 or newer. To check, enter the following in terminal::
+You will need gcc and g++ 5.0 or newer. To check, enter the following in terminal::
 
     g++ --version
 
 If your version is outdated, check with your Linux distribution on how to upgrade.
-If you have version 4.8 or newer, proceed with the installation.
+If you have version 5.8 or newer, proceed with the installation.
 
 #. Download the Miniconda Python 3.x installer: `Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh`_. Run it
    in your terminal window::
@@ -118,4 +118,3 @@ Troubleshooting
 
 If you already had Python installed, having multiple distributions may cause trouble in some cases.
 Check the `PATH` environment variable and make sure the Miniconda has priority.
-

readme.md

@@ -34,12 +34,12 @@ See the [documentation] for more details.
 
 Pybinding can be installed on Windows, Linux or Mac, with the following prerequisites:
 
-* [Python] 3.4 or newer (Python 2.x is not supported)
+* [Python] 3.5 or newer (Python 2.x is not supported)
 * The [SciPy] stack of scientific packages, with required versions:
-  * numpy >= v1.9
-  * scipy >= v0.15
-  * matplotlib >= v1.5
-* If you're using Linux, you'll also need GCC >= v4.8 and CMake >= v3.0.
+  * numpy >= v1.12
+  * scipy >= v0.19
+  * matplotlib >= v2.0
+* If you're using Linux, you'll also need GCC >= v5.0 (or clang >= v3.5) and CMake >= v3.1.
 
 Detailed [install instructions] are part of the documentation, but if you already have all the
 prerequisites, it's just a simple case of using `pip`, Python's usual package manager:

setup.py

@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@
 from setuptools.command.egg_info import manifest_maker
 
 
-if sys.version_info[:2] < (3, 4):
-    print("Python >= 3.4 is required.")
+if sys.version_info[:2] < (3, 5):
+    print("Python >= 3.5 is required.")
     sys.exit(-1)
 
 
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ def changelog():
         'License :: OSI Approved :: BSD License',
         'Programming Language :: C++',
         'Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: Only',
-        'Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4',
         'Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5',
+        'Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6',
         'Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPython',
     ],