diff --git a/frappe/core/doctype/language/language.py b/frappe/core/doctype/language/language.py
index 83d68acb36..8c7e01cb62 100644
--- a/frappe/core/doctype/language/language.py
+++ b/frappe/core/doctype/language/language.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ def export_languages_json():
 	languages = frappe.db.get_all('Language', fields=['name', 'language_name'])
 	languages = [{'name': d.language_name, 'code': d.name} for d in languages]
 
-	languages.sort(lambda a,b: 1 if a['code'] > b['code'] else -1)
+	languages.sort(key = lambda a: a['code'])
 
 	with open(frappe.get_app_path('frappe', 'geo', 'languages.json'), 'w') as f:
 		f.write(frappe.as_json(languages))
diff --git a/frappe/core/page/data_import_tool/exporter.py b/frappe/core/page/data_import_tool/exporter.py
index 4f7bf8a067..7920059957 100644
--- a/frappe/core/page/data_import_tool/exporter.py
+++ b/frappe/core/page/data_import_tool/exporter.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ def get_template(doctype=None, parent_doctype=None, all_doctypes="No", with_data
 			if field and ((select_columns and f[0] in select_columns[dt]) or not select_columns):
 				tablecolumns.append(field)
 
-		tablecolumns.sort(lambda a, b: int(a.idx - b.idx))
+		tablecolumns.sort(key = lambda a: int(a.idx))
 
 		_column_start_end = frappe._dict(start=0)
 
diff --git a/frappe/desk/doctype/desktop_icon/desktop_icon.py b/frappe/desk/doctype/desktop_icon/desktop_icon.py
index 1319ffba49..0787af88f7 100644
--- a/frappe/desk/doctype/desktop_icon/desktop_icon.py
+++ b/frappe/desk/doctype/desktop_icon/desktop_icon.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def get_desktop_icons(user=None):
 				icon.hidden = 1
 
 		# sort by idx
-		user_icons.sort(lambda a, b: 1 if a.idx > b.idx else -1)
+		user_icons.sort(key = lambda a: a.idx)
 
 		# translate
 		for d in user_icons:
diff --git a/frappe/translate.py b/frappe/translate.py
index 33c98e753b..7f47954300 100644
--- a/frappe/translate.py
+++ b/frappe/translate.py
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ def write_csv_file(path, app_messages, lang_dict):
 	:param app_messages: Translatable strings for this app.
 	:param lang_dict: Full translated dict.
 	"""
-	app_messages.sort(lambda x,y: cmp(x[1], y[1]))
+	app_messages.sort(key = lambda x: x[1])
 	from csv import writer
 	with open(path, 'wb') as msgfile:
 		w = writer(msgfile, lineterminator='\n')