500 Python Interpreters
Python 3.13 will introduce an optional Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) to enhance multithreading performance, addressing historical limitations that affected applications like video games and presenting challenges for extension developers.
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As Python 3.13 approaches its final release, discussions have intensified around the introduction of an optional Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) as outlined in PEP 703. This change aims to enhance Python's performance in multithreading, a long-awaited improvement for many users. The GIL has historically limited Python's ability to execute threads concurrently, impacting performance, particularly in applications like video games. The article reflects on the author's personal experiences with Python's GIL, tracing its origins back to Python 1.5 when threading was first introduced. The GIL was designed to simplify the C API and ensure thread safety, but it has also led to performance bottlenecks, especially in high-demand scenarios. The introduction of a per-interpreter GIL in Python 3.12 (PEP 684) and the upcoming optional GIL in 3.13 are seen as steps towards addressing these issues. The author emphasizes the historical context of Python's development, noting that early decisions were made without the benefit of extensive community input or established best practices. The article concludes by discussing how the GIL operates at the C API level and the implications for extension developers, highlighting the ongoing challenges and potential improvements in Python's threading model.
- Python 3.13 will introduce an optional GIL to improve multithreading performance.
- The GIL has historically limited Python's threading capabilities, affecting applications like video games.
- The introduction of a per-interpreter GIL in Python 3.12 is a step towards better performance.
- Early design decisions regarding the GIL were made without extensive community input.
- The GIL's operation at the C API level presents challenges for extension developers.
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- Users are curious about the practical implications of the new GIL, particularly for multithreading and performance gains.
- There are questions about the stability and potential issues of the new implementation, with some users considering waiting before adopting it in new libraries.
- Some comments reference technical details and jokes related to the GIL and interpreter states, indicating a mix of humor and confusion in the community.
- Concerns about the complexity of debugging multithreaded applications with the new GIL are raised.
- Overall, there is a strong interest in understanding the use cases and performance expectations of the new feature.
10 commentsOr is the functionality as of 3.13 still limited to low level python embedding applications?
Very exciting! I wonder what the first set of motivating applications are and what kind of performance gains are they expecting.
> static constexpr auto MAXIMUM_STATES = 463;
There is a joke here that I’m missing. Does anyone understand what it is?
Maybe I’m slow today, but are the author complaining (rightfully so) about the buggy no-gil implementation?
Should we wait until the feature is more stable before implementing new libraries? I was thinking on making use of it in new libraries I plan to develop.
What are the most blatant use case to test this feature?
PD: So many questions, I know, sorry everybody!
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