[Python-Dev] C new-style classes and GC (original) (raw)

Tim Peters tim@zope.com
Fri, 16 May 2003 14:12:12 -0400

[Guido]

But calling tpfree is more correct. This allows a subclass to change the memory allocation policy. (This is also important if a base class is not collectible but a subclass is -- then it's essential that the base class dealloc handler calls tpfree.)

I think the scoop is that cyclic gc got added before new-style classes, so at the time new-style classes were introduced all tp_dealloc slots for gc'able types called the gc del function directly. After that, I expect the only ones that got changed were those reviewed (lists, tuples, dicts, ...) as part of making test_descr.py's subclass-from-builtin tests work.

Jeremy is rummaging thru current CVS now changing the others (frames, functions, ...). Does this count as a bugfix, i.e. should it be backported to 2.2.3?