classification
Title: threading documentation makes no mention of the GIL
Type: Stage:
Components: Documentation Versions: Python 2.7
process
Status: open Resolution:
Dependencies: Superseder:
Assigned To: jnoller Nosy List: georg.brandl, illume, jnoller, segfaulthunter (4)
Priority: Keywords patch

Created on 2009-06-11 20:37 by segfaulthunter, last changed 2009-09-22 16:33 by illume.

Files
File name Uploaded Description Edit Remove
threading.rst.patch segfaulthunter, 2009-06-11 20:37 Add Note about GIL to threading.rst
Messages (3)
msg89259 - (view) Author: Florian Mayer (segfaulthunter) Date: 2009-06-11 20:37 
I think the GIL should be mentioned in the threading documentation, so
that people do not try to use them for scalability reasons.
msg89838 - (view) Author: Jesse Noller (jnoller) Date: 2009-06-29 13:52 
I strongly disagree with the wording of the patch as-is. It makes no 
mention of the simple fact that I/O blocked threads get a benefit with 
threading, and so on.

I do agree with adding some details about this in the core documentation 
however.
msg93003 - (view) Author: Rene Dudfield (illume) Date: 2009-09-22 16:33 
hello,

CPU intensive programs can also benefit from the GIL if they use code
which releases the GIL around the CPU intensive parts.

Some parts of python do this, as do the numpy and pygame extensions
amongst others.

Another good, but separate, documentation patch would be to document
which functions release the GIL.


cheers,
History
Date User Action Args
2009-09-22 16:33:30illumesetnosy: + illume
messages: + msg93003
2009-07-11 10:52:58georg.brandlsetassignee: georg.brandl -> jnoller
2009-06-29 13:52:09jnollersetnosy: + jnoller
messages: + msg89838
2009-06-11 20:37:15segfaulthuntercreate