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[Python-Dev] pre-PEP: Resource-Release Support for Generators

Guido van Rossum guido at python.org
Tue Aug 26 21:57:59 EDT 2003 
> I have no idea what the issues are w.r.t. cleanup for generators, but 
> wouldn't it be more natural to make sure that the finally clause would 
> be executed when the generator is garbage collected?

The problem is that the language definition doesn't define *when* GC
happens, if at all.  E.g. in Jython this depends on the Java GC.  And
even in CPython, it's easily conceivable that an accidental cycle in
the user data structures prevents collection.  So there is a need for
explicit control in some cases.

> Back to lurking,

Good idea. :-)

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