Feature Request: PyEz official version compare function

[shigechika]

I need a official version compare function.

I am using distutils LooseVersion() in my PyEz based tools ( https://github.com/shigechika/junos-update )
But LooseVersion() has problems.

• distutils Version classes are deprecated.
• LooseVersion() can't compare JUNOS -S train. ex 20.4R3.8 vs 20.4R3-S4.8

So, I use the following function. but It's not portable in the future.

def compare_version(left, right):
    """compare version left and right

    :param left: version left string, ex 18.4R3-S9.2, 
    :param right: version right string, ex 18.4R3-S10

    :return:  1 if left  > right
              0 if left == right
             -1 if left  < right
    """
    if left is None or right is None:
        return None
    if LooseVersion(left.replace("-S", "00")) > LooseVersion(right.replace("-S", "00")):
	return 1
    if LooseVersion(left.replace("-S", "00")) < LooseVersion(right.replace("-S", "00")):
        return -1
    return 0

Could you create official version compare function?
Thank you.