[build] drop py3.6/3.7 support and update CI default to py3.8/3.9

[felixT2K]

This PR:

• drops support for python 3.6 and 3.7 (latest packages mostly have a mimum python version from 3.8 for example pytorch 2.0)
• update CI also to be up to date

Any feedback is welcome :)

[codecov]

Codecov Report

Merging #1184 (e374e8d) into main (495c84c) will decrease coverage by 0.03%.
The diff coverage is n/a.

@@            Coverage Diff             @@
##             main    #1184      +/-   ##
==========================================
- Coverage   95.01%   94.98%   -0.03%     
==========================================
  Files         149      149              
  Lines        6417     6419       +2     
==========================================
  Hits         6097     6097              
- Misses        320      322       +2     

Flag	Coverage Δ
unittests	94.98% <ø> (-0.03%)	⬇️

Flags with carried forward coverage won't be shown. Click here to find out more.

see 5 files with indirect coverage changes

[felixdittrich92]

@charlesmindee If we want to merge it you should disable the required checks in the GitHub actions merge it and enable the same updated checks again as required (you are the only one with repo Admin rights) :)

[frgfm]

Thanks, I was about to open a PR haha
I added a few comments but here are my high-level thoughts:

• dropping support of 3.6 & 3.7, and adding 3.9 & 3.10 is something
• moving the main version support from 3.8 to 3.10 is another
• I'd suggest staying on 3.8 which is still the most used python version (at least a few months back)

Best !

[felixT2K]

@frgfm i personally prefer especially for tests to have 2er steps (3.8 | 3.10 | 3.12 ..) but i am also fine to test it always on the most used python version :)

But all tests was also running with python 3.10 so good to know :)

Now it is up to @charlesmindee :)

[charlesmindee]

thanks, LGTM. Once @odulcy-mindee has approved we can merge

[odulcy-mindee]

Thanks @felixdittrich92 !!