Maya Python 3 migration for legacy PyMEL toolsets

Transitioning Custom Tooling to Python 3

Autodesk Maya has transitioned its internal interpreter from Python 2.7 to Python 3. While the maya.cmds module maintains consistent syntax for basic scene manipulation, legacy tools utilizing PyMEL or the OpenMaya API face compatibility boundaries regarding string handling and integer division.

The primary constraint is that Python 2.7 plugins cannot be loaded in a Python 3 environment without recompilation or a full rewrite of type declarations. Because mixing interpreter versions within a single session is unsupported, tools must be fully migrated to ensure stability.

Given the performance overhead of PyMEL compared to native commands, what are the best practices for auditing legacy PyMEL scripts to determine if they should be rewritten in maya.cmds or simply updated for Python 3 compatibility? Which specific type-hinting patterns in the OpenMaya API are required to maintain performance parity during this migration?