[Python-Dev] Re: [Python-checkins] python/dist/src/Python import.c,2.210,2.211

[M.-A. Lemburg]

Jack Jansen wrote:
> 
> On vrijdag, nov 29, 2002, at 21:47 Europe/Amsterdam, 
> jvr@users.sourceforge.net wrote:
> 
>> Update of /cvsroot/python/python/dist/src/Python
>> In directory sc8-pr-cvs1:/tmp/cvs-serv20813/Python
>>
>> Modified Files:
>>     import.c
>> Log Message:
>> Slightly improved version of patch #642578: "Expose 
>> PyImport_FrozenModules
>> in imp". This adds two functions to the imp module: get_frozenmodules()
>> and set_frozenmodules().
> 
> 
> Something that's been bothering me about frozen modules in the classical 
> sense (i.e. those that are stored in C static data structures) is that 
> the memory used by them is gone without any chance at recovery. For big 
> frozen Python programs that are to be run on small machines this is a 
> waste of precious memory.
> 
> With modules "frozen" with set_frozenmodules you could conceivably free 
> the data again after it has been imported (similar to what MacPython-OS9 
> does with modules "frozen" in "PYC " resources).
> 
> Would that be worth the added complexity?

Allocating the data on the heap would prevent sharing the
static data between processes (provided you have multiple
of the running), so if you want to add that feature, please
make it an option and not the default.

mxCGIPython heavily relies on the fact that frozen modules
are shared between processes.

-- 
Marc-Andre Lemburg
CEO eGenix.com Software GmbH
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