[Python-checkins] CVS: python/dist/src/Misc ACKS,1.141,1.142 NEWS,1.330,1.331

[Tim Peters]

Update of /cvsroot/python/python/dist/src/Misc
In directory usw-pr-cvs1:/tmp/cvs-serv10461/python/Misc

Modified Files:
	ACKS NEWS 
Log Message:
SF patch #489173:  Make os.spawnv not block the interpreter, from
Anthony Roach.
Release the global interpreter lock around platform spawn calls.
Bugfix candidate?  Hard to say; I favor "yes, bugfix".
These clearly *should* have been releasing the GIL all along, if for no
other reason than compatibility with the similar os.system().  But it's
possible some program out there is (a) multithreaded, (b) calling a spawn
function with P_WAIT, and (c) relying on the spawn call to block all their
threads until the spawned program completes.  I think it's very unlikely
anyone is doing that on purpose, but someone may be doing so by accident.


Index: ACKS
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvsroot/python/python/dist/src/Misc/ACKS,v
retrieving revision 1.141
retrieving revision 1.142
diff -C2 -d -r1.141 -r1.142
*** ACKS	2001/12/06 03:31:04	1.141
--- ACKS	2001/12/07 20:35:42	1.142
***************
*** 354,357 ****
--- 354,358 ----
  Nicholas Riley
  Jean-Claude Rimbault
+ Anthony Roach
  Andy Robinson
  Jim Robinson

Index: NEWS
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvsroot/python/python/dist/src/Misc/NEWS,v
retrieving revision 1.330
retrieving revision 1.331
diff -C2 -d -r1.330 -r1.331
*** NEWS	2001/12/06 21:47:20	1.330
--- NEWS	2001/12/07 20:35:42	1.331
***************
*** 53,56 ****
--- 53,63 ----
  Library
  
+ - Functions in the os.spawn() family now release the global interpreter
+   lock around calling the platform spawn.  They should always have done
+   this, but did not before 2.2c1.  Multithreaded programs calling
+   an os.spawn function with P_WAIT will no longer block all Python threads
+   until the spawned program completes.  It's possible that some programs
+   relies on blocking, although more likely by accident than by design.
+ 
  - webbrowser defaults to netscape.exe on OS/2 now.