when should I explicitly close a file?

[Alf P. Steinbach]

* Lawrence D'Oliveiro:
> In message <4bc9aadb$1 at dnews.tpgi.com.au>, Lie Ryan wrote:
> 
>> Since in python nothing is guaranteed about implicit file close ...
> 
> It is guaranteed that objects with a reference count of zero will be 
> disposed.

Only in current CPython.


> In my experiments, this happens immediately.

Depends what you mean, but even in current CPython destruction of a local can be 
postponed indefinitely if a reference to the stack frame is kept somewhere.

And that happens, for example, when an exception is raised (until the handler 
completes, but it doesn't necessarily complete for a Very Long Time).


Cheers & hth.,

- Alf