Thread reaping in test_support is imperfect because, even when a thread
has a disappeared from _active and _limbo, the Thread object might still
be hanging somewhere in memory (leaving its last instants). This problem
manifests itself when trying to fix the transient refleaks in
test_socketserver.

One solution I've found is to add a _count() method to the thread
module, which returns the number of running threads from the point of
view of the C extension. When _count() is decremented, we can be sure
the Python method has finished running and the Thread object is not
hanging around.

Thinking about it, another possibility is to strengthen Thread.join(),
so that it waits for the actual end of the thread, not a small instant
before.

Forget the last message. While improving Thread.join() can be good, it
still doesn't guarantee that all references have been released.

Here's a new patch with tests.

Committed in r75958, r75959.

stage: patch review -> resolved

messages: + msg94592