🔥 drop Python 3.8 support

CMakeLists.txt

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ if(BUILD_MQT_QCEC_BINDINGS)
 
   # top-level call to find Python
   find_package(
-    Python 3.8 REQUIRED
+    Python 3.9 REQUIRED
     COMPONENTS Interpreter Development.Module
     OPTIONAL_COMPONENTS Development.SABIModule)
 endif()

README.md

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ If you have any questions, feel free to contact us via [quantum.cda@xcit.tum.de]
 
 ## Getting Started
 
-QCEC is available via [PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/mqt.qcec/) for Linux, macOS, and Windows and supports Python 3.8 to 3.12.
+QCEC is available via [PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/mqt.qcec/) for Linux, macOS, and Windows and supports Python 3.9 to 3.13.
 
 ```console
 (venv) $ pip install mqt.qcec
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ print(result.equivalence)
 
 ## System Requirements and Building
 
-The implementation is compatible with any C++17 compiler, a minimum CMake version of 3.19, and Python 3.8+.
+The implementation is compatible with any C++17 compiler, a minimum CMake version of 3.19, and Python 3.9+.
 Please refer to the [documentation](https://mqt.readthedocs.io/projects/qcec) on how to build the project.
 
 Building (and running) is continuously tested under Linux, macOS, and Windows using the [latest available system versions for GitHub Actions](https://github.com/actions/virtual-environments).

docs/source/Installation.rst

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ In most practical cases (under 64-bit Linux, MacOS incl. Apple Silicon, and Wind
         (venv) $ pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
 
 .. warning::
-    As of version 2.2.0, support for Python 3.7 has been officially dropped.
+    As of version 2.8.0, support for Python 3.8 has been officially dropped.
     We strongly recommend that users upgrade to a more recent version of Python to ensure compatibility and continue receiving updates and support.
     Thank you for your understanding.
 

noxfile.py

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 nox.options.sessions = ["lint", "tests", "minimums"]
 
-PYTHON_ALL_VERSIONS = ["3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13"]
+PYTHON_ALL_VERSIONS = ["3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13"]
 
 # The following lists all the build requirements for building the package.
 # Note that this includes transitive build dependencies of package dependencies,
@@ -105,18 +105,17 @@ def docs(session: nox.Session) -> None:
     extra_installs = ["sphinx-autobuild"] if serve else []
     session.install(*BUILD_REQUIREMENTS, *extra_installs)
     session.install("--no-build-isolation", "-ve.[docs]", "--reinstall-package", "mqt.qcec")
-    session.chdir("docs")
 
     if args.builder == "linkcheck":
-        session.run("sphinx-build", "-b", "linkcheck", "source", "_build/linkcheck", *posargs)
+        session.run("sphinx-build", "-b", "linkcheck", "docs", "docs/_build/linkcheck", *posargs)
         return
 
     shared_args = (
         "-n",  # nitpicky mode
         "-T",  # full tracebacks
         f"-b={args.builder}",
-        "source",
-        f"_build/{args.builder}",
+        "docs",
+        f"docs/_build/{args.builder}",
         *posargs,
     )
 

pyproject.toml

@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ classifiers = [
     "Programming Language :: Python",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: Only",
-    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11",
@@ -38,7 +37,7 @@ classifiers = [
     "Development Status :: 5 - Production/Stable",
     "Typing :: Typed",
 ]
-requires-python = ">=3.8"
+requires-python = ">=3.9"
 dependencies = [
     "importlib_resources>=5.0; python_version < '3.10'",
     "typing_extensions>=4.2; python_version < '3.11'", # used for typing.Unpack
@@ -144,7 +143,6 @@ filterwarnings = [
     "error",
     'ignore:.*encountered in det.*:RuntimeWarning:numpy.linalg:',
     'ignore:.*datetime\.datetime\.utcfromtimestamp.*:DeprecationWarning:',
-    'ignore:.*Qiskit with Python 3.8.*:DeprecationWarning:',
 ]
 
 [tool.coverage]
@@ -161,7 +159,7 @@ report.exclude_also = [
 [tool.mypy]
 files = ["src/mqt", "test/python", "noxfile.py"]
 mypy_path = ["$MYPY_CONFIG_FILE_DIR/src"]
-python_version = "3.8"
+python_version = "3.9"
 warn_unused_configs = true
 enable_error_code = ["ignore-without-code", "redundant-expr", "truthy-bool"]
 strict = true
@@ -284,7 +282,7 @@ build = "cp3*"
 skip = "*-musllinux_*"
 archs = "auto64"
 test-command = "python -c \"from mqt import qcec\""
-test-skip = ["cp38-macosx_arm64", "cp313*"] # skip testing on Python 3.13 until our dependencies are ready
+test-skip = ["cp313*"] # skip testing on Python 3.13 until our dependencies are ready
 build-frontend = "build[uv]"
 free-threaded-support = true
 manylinux-x86_64-image = "manylinux_2_28"