# Spec change/bugfix: dependency specifiers simplification (PEP 508)

**URL:** https://discuss.python.org/t/spec-change-bugfix-dependency-specifiers-simplification-pep-508/105203
**Category:** Standards
**Created:** [December 4, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/spec-change-bugfix-dependency-specifiers-simplification-pep-508/105203 "2025-12-04T17:55:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 15

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### Author: ![henryiii](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discuss.python.org/henryiii/32/3493_2.png) [@henryiii](https://discuss.python.org/u/henryiii)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2026, 10:46pm UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/spec-change-bugfix-dependency-specifiers-simplification-pep-508/105203/15 "2026-01-09T22:46:39Z")

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`packaging 26.0rc1` is now out ([Announcement: packaging 26.0rc1 released!](https://discuss.python.org/t/announcement-packaging-26-0rc1-released/105631)) including this change. Final release planned in a week if nothing comes up (Jan 16th, 2026).

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_[View the full topic](https://discuss.python.org/t/spec-change-bugfix-dependency-specifiers-simplification-pep-508/105203)._