import gc
import threading
import time
import uuid

procs = []

def _target():
    time.sleep(5)
    some_data = bytearray(3145728)
    time.sleep(5)

def _create_thread():
    process = threading.Thread(target=_target, name=str(uuid.uuid4()))
    process.start()
    procs.append(process)

def _cleanup_processes():
    for proc in procs:
        if proc.is_alive():
            continue
        proc.join()
        procs.remove(proc)

print("Creating threads...")
for i in range(1,20):
    _create_thread()
    time.sleep(3) # when commenting this out it doesn't leak anymore
print("DONE!\n")

print("Creating more threads...")
for i in range(1,20):
    _create_thread()
print("DONE!\n")

print("Sleeping for 30 seconds. Letting the threads to finish their job...")
time.sleep(30)
print("woke up again!\n")

while True:
    print("Running garbage collector. ")
    gc.collect()
    print("DONE.\n")
    print("Cleaning up processes...")
    _cleanup_processes()
    print("# of processes left: {}", len(procs))
    print("DONE.\n")
    print("Sleeping a bit...")
    time.sleep(3)
    print("DONE!\n")