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gh-108223: Document --disable-gil flag in configure#108236

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vstinner merged 4 commits intopython:mainfrom
colesbury:pep703-configure-docs
Aug 21, 2023
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gh-108223: Document --disable-gil flag in configure#108236
vstinner merged 4 commits intopython:mainfrom
colesbury:pep703-configure-docs

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@colesbury
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@colesbury colesbury commented Aug 21, 2023

Adds an entry in the configure documentation for the --disable-gil flag.


📚 Documentation preview 📚: https://cpython-previews--108236.org.readthedocs.build/

@colesbury colesbury added docs Documentation in the Doc dir skip news build The build process and cross-build labels Aug 21, 2023
@colesbury colesbury requested a review from vstinner August 21, 2023 18:42
.. cmdoption:: --disable-gil

Enables experimental support for running Python without the global
interpreter lock (GIL).
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You should add a reference to the related PEP:

See :pep:`703` "Making the Global Interpreter Lock Optional in CPython".

colesbury and others added 2 commits August 21, 2023 14:49
Co-authored-by: Victor Stinner <vstinner@python.org>
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LGTM, thanks for the added doc!

Comment on lines +190 to +191
Enables experimental support for running Python without the
:term:`global interpreter lock` (GIL).
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@AA-Turner AA-Turner Aug 21, 2023

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Should we add a warning admonition emphasising that this is experimental, in development, etc -- mainly to preempt a random twitter recommendation that "No GIL has now been implemented! Rebuild your Python today with --disable-gil..."

Perhaps a fear that won't materialise, though!

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I'm okay with adding whatever text you think is helpful. I expect to revisit and update this later in the development cycle based on what's actually integrated.

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Thanks Sam! Victor's simpler change I think is better for now--we don't really advertise building from source to end-users anyway, so I on reflection I think we don't need a high level of warning here.

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itamaro commented Aug 21, 2023

considering how much "nothing" this flag is currently doing, vs how much hype it could lead to -- perhaps it should be left undocumented for now?

otherwise, i'd add something like "experimental and under active development - does NOT yet provide actual GIL-less capabilities - intended for use only by contributors actively working on implementing PEP-703 and buildbots"

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considering how much "nothing" this flag is currently doing, vs how much hype it could lead to -- perhaps it should be left undocumented for now?

I disagree. I prefer to provide accurate documentation, because of the hype.

@vstinner vstinner enabled auto-merge (squash) August 21, 2023 20:26
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This is always room for enhancement, but IMO that's a good start for the documentation :-) Maybe a reference documentation should be added later for any question related to NOGIL. For now, the doc points to the complete PEP.

@vstinner vstinner merged commit 4b32d4f into python:main Aug 21, 2023
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There's a new commit after the PR has been approved.

@vstinner: please review the changes made to this pull request.

@bedevere-bot bedevere-bot requested a review from vstinner August 21, 2023 20:37
@colesbury colesbury deleted the pep703-configure-docs branch September 1, 2023 17:54
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5 participants