Meta Supports PEP 703 to Make the CPython GIL Optional
Meta is promoting PEP 703, which proposes adding a --disable-gil build option to CPython so Python can run without the Global Interpreter Lock, and has pledged three engineer‑years by 2025 to help implement the change, while also noting its Threads product already runs on a heavily modified CPython backend.
Meta is working to promote the adoption of PEP 703, a proposal that would make the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) optional in CPython, improving multi‑threaded performance.
The proposal suggests adding a build configuration --disable-gil that allows Python code to run without the GIL, with necessary changes to keep the interpreter thread‑safe.
According to the proposal, the GIL prevents simultaneous multi‑threaded execution, becoming a major obstacle to leveraging multi‑core CPUs for faster Python code.
Meta Instagram engineer Carl Meyer, who is also a CPython core developer, has pledged that if PEP 703 is accepted, Meta will allocate three engineer‑years before 2025 to work with the core team on its implementation.
Additionally, Meta’s newly released product Threads uses CPython as its backend, with deep customizations.
Related links:
https://peps.python.org/pep-0703/
https://discuss.python.org/t/a-fast-free-threading-python/27903/99
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