[Python-Dev] Python 2.3a1's mandatory use of cyclic GC causes existing applications to fail (original) (raw)

Guido van Rossum guido@python.org
Wed, 05 Feb 2003 13:06:27 -0500

Tim Peters writes: > For example, create a new-style class and you've created cycles. > If you have a customer who disables cyclic GC, they'll have to > avoid other newer features too, or endure leaks.

[Fred]

Why would creating new style classes create cycles? The links between a type and derived types use weak references, which do not rely on the cycle GC support.

The class dict contains methods, and the methods contain a reference back to the class. This is not a weak reference.

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)