“I'm basically giving myself a permanent vacation from being BDFL”

It is sad but needs to happen with every BDFL, I really like the tone of the email and I am sure the python core devs would figure out something. :)

Finally, Guido if you are reading this, thanks for everything you have done for the language and especially the community behind it. I partly owe loving what I do to you. Hope taking this break would help you be happier.

Yes thank you Guido! I started working with python back in 1999 working with zope, now we live in a much easier world where you have many options to deploy python applications, my boss wound up rejecting my project but working with python was just as amazing in 99 as it is today its just so much easier you can see all the work and more importantly love that has been put into the language since its inception. Thanks again Guido for all your amazing work!

I have really horrible memories of trying to keep a Plone site in prod from my sysadmin days.

I'm also really sad to see him go. I sincerely hope Guido enjoys his well earned time off. I'm extremely grateful for the amazing community he has fostered around his excellent language.

Though as an avid Python user (~10 years), this does fill me with concern. Not only for Guido's health, but for the health of the language. Guido leaves awfully big shoes to fill, and I'm hoping the community is up for the challenge.