Meta Supports PEP 703: Making the GIL Optional in CPython
Meta is backing PEP 703, which proposes adding a --disable-gil build option to CPython so that Python code can run without the Global Interpreter Lock, improving multithreaded performance on multi‑core CPUs, with Meta promising engineering resources to help implement it by 2025.
Meta is actively promoting the adoption of PEP 703, titled “Making the Global Interpreter Lock Optional in CPython,” which aims to make the GIL optional in CPython.
The proposal suggests adding a build configuration --disable-gil that allows Python to run without the GIL and includes necessary changes to ensure thread safety.
According to the proposal, the GIL prevents simultaneous multithreaded execution of code, becoming a major obstacle to improving Python performance on multi‑core CPUs.
Python’s creator recently mentioned that if Meta or other tech companies could provide engineers with deep CPython experience to assist the core team, it would be greatly appreciated.
Meta Instagram engineer Carl Meyer, who is also a CPython core developer, pledged that if PEP 703 is accepted, Meta will allocate three engineer‑years before 2025 to work with the core team on its implementation.
Meta’s latest product, Threads, is reported to use CPython as its backend.
Related links: https://peps.python.org/pep-0703/ https://discuss.python.org/t/a-fast-free-threading-python/27903/99
Additionally, the article includes a QR code offering free access to a Python public course and a collection of learning materials, which is promotional content.
Python Programming Learning Circle
A global community of Chinese Python developers offering technical articles, columns, original video tutorials, and problem sets. Topics include web full‑stack development, web scraping, data analysis, natural language processing, image processing, machine learning, automated testing, DevOps automation, and big data.
How this landed with the community
Was this worth your time?
0 Comments
Thoughtful readers leave field notes, pushback, and hard-won operational detail here.