[Python-Dev] Better module shutdown procedure

[Neil Schemenauer]

On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 05:35:38PM -0500, Daniel Stutzbach wrote:
> The first and last sentences seem like a contradiction to me.  If I cannot
> guarantee that globals will be valid when __del__ is executed, then I must
> not reference globals from __del__.

I think there is confusion about the word "reference". In the
method:

    def __del__():
        print sys.version

the global variable reference to 'sys' is not a reference on the GC
referencing counting sense. IOW, it does not result in a a Py_INCREF
while the function is not being executed and therefore should be
safe after the proposed change. Currently, it could result in 'None'
being printed.

HTH,

  Neil