GIL Become Optional in Python 3.13
Python 3.13 introduces an experimental feature to disable the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL), enhancing concurrency in multi-threaded applications, while allowing users to manage GIL status through various options.
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Python 3.13 introduces an experimental feature that allows the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) to be disabled, enabling free-threaded mode. The GIL is a mechanism in CPython that restricts the execution of Python bytecode to one thread at a time. With the new version, users can opt to disable the GIL during installation by selecting the "free threaded binaries" option or by configuring the build with the `--disable-gil` option. This change allows for greater concurrency in multi-threaded applications. Users can control the GIL's status using the environment variable `PYTHON_GIL` or the command-line option `-X gil`. Performance tests indicate that while multi-threaded tasks show significant performance improvements without the GIL, single-threaded and multi-process tasks may experience some degradation. The ability to check the GIL status in the current interpreter is also provided, enhancing user control over threading behavior in Python applications.
- Python 3.13 allows optional disabling of the GIL for improved concurrency.
- The feature is experimental and requires specific installation configurations.
- Users can manage GIL status via environment variables and command-line options.
- Performance tests show improved multi-threaded execution but potential slowdowns in single-threaded and multi-process tasks.
- The ability to check GIL status is included in the new version.
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14 commentsI get that for people for whom Python is their main language, all these changes make their lives better. But for me it kinda just gets in the way. Personally, I wish Python would continue to be maintained as is, but stop changing so much. Stop breaking my builds.
To also enable this as default in the coming years is crazy.
I would love to hear what Guido thinks about this.
Everytime I've needed just a bit of multicore performance and have gotten stuck using multiprocessing sucks - I'd much prefer just to use threading and not worry about the pickling process.
If your pure Python code fails without the GIL it can probably fail with the GIL, and testing it without the GIL might help you find those bugs a lot quicker.
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