[Python-Dev] Can someone look at dummy_thread (#622537)? (original) (raw)

Fredrik Lundh fredrik@pythonware.com
Tue, 3 Dec 2002 20:24:31 +0100

Brett Cannon wrote:

> > > > try: > > > > import threading > > > > except ImportError: > > > > threading = None # use non-threaded behaviour

But if it does it will be on platforms it couldn't run on previously.

Sigh. Let's try one more time:

Under 2.2 and earlier, on a platform that doesn't support threads, the above code will set threading to None, and the application can then use "if threading is None" to provide application-specific work- arounds.

(catching import errors is a very common pattern when you're writing portable Python code).

If you change Python so that "import threading" succeeds also on plat- forms that don't support threads, the application-specific workarounds will no longer be used, and the application may no longer work properly.

And since we're talking deadlocks, chances are that nobody will notice before it's too late.