[Python-Dev] Finalizers considered questionable ;)

[Tim Peters]

[Jim Fulton]
> ...
> There is no reason for __del__ to fail unless it depends on
> cyclicly-related objects, which should be viewed as a design
> mistake.
>
> OTOH, __del__ should never fail because module globals go away.
> IMO, the current circular references involving module globals are
> unnecessary, but that's a different topic. ;)

IOW, you view "the current circular references involving module globals" as
"a design mistake" <wink>.  And perhaps they are!  I wouldn't call it a
different topic, though:  so long as people are *viewing* shutdown __del__
problems as just another instance of finalizers in cyclic trash, it makes
the latter *seem* inescapably "normal", and so something that has to be
catered to.  If you have a way to take the shutdown problems out of the
discussion, it would help clarify both topics, at the very least by
deconflating them.

it's-a-mailing-list-so-no-need-to-stay-on-topic<wink>-ly y'rs  - tim