[Python-Dev] PEP-311 operational?

[Todd Miller]

I've been trying for a day or so to use the new PyGILState_Ensure() and
PyGILState_Release() calls.  I started with a Python multi-threaded test
case and a simple hypothetical extension function.  I want to protect
the extension function in case it gets called from an embedded context
by a non-Python thread.  (In truth, I started with numarray stuff where
this makes slightly more sense;  I wanted to protect an API function.)

It is now my impression that an extension function with the following
core contents: 

{ PyGILState_STATE state = PyGILState_Ensure();
  int i;
  for(i=0; i<100000; i++);
  PyGILState_Release(state);
}

will deadlock (in the Ensure), provided it is called from some secondary
thread from Python.  I thought this would be OK and that the
Ensure/Release would essentially be a noop.  Did I misread the PEP?  Is
the PEP-311 code finished yet?

(I tried this under Red Hat 8 and Windows 2000 pro with Python CVS)

Thanks,
Todd