[martin@v.loewis.de]
But that brings us back to determining whether an object is "safe to untrack". Are you suggesting that update_refs should know what tuples are?
To start with, sure, and maybe to end with. Tuples are the only type where we have actual evidence that it can make a lick of difference. I don't want to delay getting an instant win there. If somebody cares enough to invent a Thoroughly General Protocol, and can convince Guido it's not just YAGNI, fine. The 6 lines of tuple-checking code can be reworked easily to use the protocol when it exists. Believe me <wink>: we already spent more time typing about this than it would have taken to write the tuple code ten times over, and tuples are still the only specific type anyone has mentioned as being a potential winner for this trick.