ROCm · vedithal-amd · Jun 24, 2026 · Jun 24, 2026 · Jun 24, 2026 · Jun 25, 2026
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ Full documentation for ROCm Compute Profiler is available at [https://rocm.docs.
 
 ### Changed
 
+* Split Python version requirements by mode. Profile mode now runs on Python 3.8+ (standard library only). Analyze mode requires Python 3.9+ and exits with a clear message on older interpreters instead of failing with an import error.
+
 * Renamed the `Pct of Peak` / `PoP` analysis column to `Percent of Peak` in analysis output.
 
 * Moved `--gui` and `--tui` analyze options to experimental status. These features now require the `--experimental` flag to be enabled (e.g., `rocprof-compute analyze --experimental --gui`).

@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@ profiling. Your level of familiarity with the profiled application, computing
 environment, and experience with ROCm Compute Profiler should inform the analysis method you
 choose.
 
+.. note::
+
+   Analyze mode requires Python 3.9 or newer; its dependencies (numpy, pandas,
+   dash, textual) drop support for older versions. Profile mode runs on Python
+   3.8+. See the Python version support table in :doc:`/install/quickstart`.
+
 .. note::
 
    Analyze mode merges separate counter collection files (pmc_perf_*.csv or results_*.csv) into a unified pmc_perf.csv for analysis.

@@ -63,7 +63,23 @@ Ensure ROCm is installed and follow the steps:
 
    .. code-block:: shell-session
 
-      python3 --version   # Requires Python 3.8+
+      python3 --version
+
+   The required Python version depends on which mode you use:
+
+   .. list-table:: Python version support
+      :header-rows: 1
+      :widths: 40 60
+
+      * - Component
+        - Python requirement
+      * - Profile mode (standard library only)
+        - 3.8 or newer
+      * - Analyze mode (numpy, pandas, dash, textual)
+        - 3.9 or newer
+
+   Analyze mode aborts with a clear message if launched on Python older
+   than 3.9.
 
 3. Check the installation dependencies.
 

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 [project]
 name = "rocprof_compute"
-requires-python = ">=3.9"
+# Baseline floor for the project (profile mode). Analyze mode requires >=3.9,
+# enforced at runtime in src/rocprof-compute.
+requires-python = ">=3.8"
 
 [tool.ruff]
 line-length = 88

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# Analyze mode only. These dependencies require Python >=3.9.
 astunparse==1.6.2
 dash-bootstrap-components==2.0.4
 dash-svg==0.0.12

@@ -59,20 +59,32 @@ def check_version(local_ver: str, desired_ver: str, operator: str) -> bool:
 
 
 def check_python_version() -> None:
-    """Check that Python version meets minimum requirement for rocprofiler-compute.
+    """Check the baseline Python version required to launch rocprofiler-compute.
 
-    Both profile and analyze modes require Python 3.8+.
+    Profile mode runs on Python 3.8+ (standard library only). Analyze mode has a
+    higher floor enforced separately in check_analyze_python_version().
     """
     min_python = (3, 8)
     # Check which version of python is being used
     if sys.version_info < min_python:  # noqa: UP036
-        print(
-            f"[ERROR] Python {min_python[0]}.{min_python[1]} or higher "
-            f"is required for rocprofiler-compute. "
-            f"The current version is "
+        console_error(
+            f"Python {min_python[0]}.{min_python[1]} or higher "
+            "is required for rocprofiler-compute. "
+            "The current version is "
             f"{sys.version_info[0]}.{sys.version_info[1]}."
         )
-        sys.exit(1)
+
+
+def check_analyze_python_version() -> None:
+    """Enforce the analyze-mode Python floor (its dependencies require 3.9+)."""
+    min_python = (3, 9)
+    if sys.version_info < min_python:
+        console_error(
+            f"analyze mode requires Python {min_python[0]}.{min_python[1]} "
+            "or higher. The current version is "
+            f"{sys.version_info[0]}.{sys.version_info[1]}. "
+            "Profile mode supports Python 3.8+."
+        )
 
 
 def verify_deps() -> None:
@@ -94,6 +106,9 @@ def verify_deps() -> None:
             version_pattern = re.compile(r"^([^=<>]+)([=<>]+)(.*)$")
 
             for dependency in dependencies:
+                dependency = dependency.strip()
+                if not dependency or dependency.startswith("#"):
+                    continue
                 match = version_pattern.match(dependency)
                 if match:
                     package, operator, desired_version = match.groups()
@@ -104,38 +119,40 @@ def verify_deps() -> None:
                     local_version = metadata.distribution(package).version
                 except metadata.PackageNotFoundError:
                     error = True
-                    print(
-                        f"[ERROR] The '{dependency}' package was not found "
-                        "in the current execution environment."
+                    console_error(
+                        f"The '{dependency}' package was not found "
+                        "in the current execution environment.",
+                        exit=False,
                     )
                     continue
 
                 # Check version requirement
                 if desired_version and not check_version(
                     local_version, desired_version, operator
                 ):
-                    print(
-                        f"[ERROR] the '{dependency}' distribution does not meet "
+                    console_error(
+                        f"the '{dependency}' distribution does not meet "
                         "version requirements to use rocprofiler-compute."
+                        f"\n  --> version installed : {local_version}",
+                        exit=False,
                     )
-                    print(f"  --> version installed : {local_version}")
                     error = True
 
             if error:
-                print(
+                console_error(
                     "\nPlease verify all of the python dependencies called out "
                     "in the requirements file"
+                    "\nare installed locally prior to running "
+                    "rocprofiler-compute."
+                    f"\n\nSee: {check_file}"
                 )
-                print("are installed locally prior to running rocprofiler-compute.")
-                print(f"\nSee: {check_file}")
-                sys.exit(1)
             return
 
 
 def main() -> None:
     """Main function for rocprofiler-compute"""
 
-    # Check Python version requirement applies to both profile and analyze modes
+    # Baseline Python floor for any mode (profile is 3.8+); analyze adds its own
     check_python_version()
 
     rocprof_compute = RocProfCompute()
@@ -145,7 +162,8 @@ def main() -> None:
     if mode == "profile":
         rocprof_compute.run_profiler()
     elif mode == "analyze":
-        # Analyze mode requires external dependencies - verify them
+        # Analyze mode needs a higher Python floor and external dependencies
+        check_analyze_python_version()
         verify_deps()
         rocprof_compute.run_analysis()
     else: