Deprecate v3 in v4

README.rst

@@ -23,6 +23,15 @@ The client is tested for python 3.8 and higher.
 
 Visit the official `Weaviate <https://weaviate.io/>`_ website for more information about the Weaviate and how to use it in production.
 
+Client Versions
+--------
+We currently support the following versions client versions:
+
+- 4.X: actively supported
+- 3.X: deprecated, receives only critical bug fixes and dependency updates
+- copy of the 3.X branch in v4 releases: Will be removed at 30.11.2024
+
+
 Articles
 --------
 
@@ -32,7 +41,6 @@ Here are some articles on Weaviate:
 - `Getting Started with Weaviate Python Library <https://towardsdatascience.com/getting-started-with-weaviate-python-client-e85d14f19e4f>`_
 - `A sub-50ms neural search with DistilBERT and Weaviate <https://towardsdatascience.com/a-sub-50ms-neural-search-with-distilbert-and-weaviate-4857ae390154>`_
 
-
 Documentation
 -------------
 

weaviate/warnings.py

@@ -160,12 +160,14 @@ def root_module_import(name: str, loc: str) -> None:
     @staticmethod
     def weaviate_v3_client_is_deprecated() -> None:
         warnings.warn(
-            message="""Dep016: Python client v3 `weaviate.Client(...)` connections and methods are deprecated. Update
-            your code to use Python client v4 `weaviate.WeaviateClient` connections and methods.
-
-            For Python Client v4 usage, see: https://weaviate.io/developers/weaviate/client-libraries/python
-            For code migration, see: https://weaviate.io/developers/weaviate/client-libraries/python/v3_v4_migration
-            """,
+            message="""Dep016: Python client v3 `weaviate.Client(...)` connections and methods are deprecated and will
+            be removed by 30.11.2024.
+
+            You can either:
+            a) upgrade your code to use Python client v4 `weaviate.WeaviateClient` connections and methods.
+                - For Python Client v4 usage, see: https://weaviate.io/developers/weaviate/client-libraries/python
+                - For code migration, see: https://weaviate.io/developers/weaviate/client-libraries/python/v3_v4_migration
+            b) stay on v3 releases by installing `weaviate-client==3.26.X` and/or pin the dependency in your requirement file using `weaviate-client>=3.26.6;<4.0.0`""",
             category=DeprecationWarning,
             stacklevel=1,
         )