I'd also like to see how 'asynchronize' works with condition variables, which seem to be the most common use for temporarily unlocking.
Hmm... I think the 'synchronize' keyword would make condition variables simpler, because they would not need to be associated with their own lock, or rather, the lock currently associated with them would not need to be used. Given the example in: http://www.python.org/doc/current/lib/condition-objects.html the psedo-code would become: # Consume one item synchronize cv: while not an_item_is_available(): cv.wait() get_an_available_item() # Produce one item synchronize cv: make_an_item_available() cv.notify() there is a problem here, however, and I *think* this is the question you are asking. The manual states " The wait() method releases the lock, and then blocks until it is awakened by a notify() or notifyAll() call for the same condition variable in another thread. Once awakened, it re-acquires the lock and returns. It is also possible to specify a timeout. " Is the question your asking, How does 'wait()' unlock a hidden lock? (FYI, Java does it by making all objects condition variables, wait, notify, and notifyAll are methods of java.lang.Object) Perhaps a __x__ method could provide access to the "hidden" lock for wait and asychronize would not be used. or, wait() could be changed to do nothing with the lock and simply wait() inside an asynchronize block: # Consume one item synchronize cv: while not an_item_is_available(): asynchronize: cv.wait() get_an_available_item() -Michel