Python 3.11, slated for release in October 2022, delivers a 10‑60% performance boost over 3.10 thanks to the Microsoft‑backed Faster CPython project, which introduces adaptive specialization, memory‑allocator refinements, and several low‑level optimizations that trade a modest memory increase for faster execution.
This article examines PEP 659, the Specializing Adaptive Interpreter proposed for CPython, explains its non‑JIT approach, details the warm‑up, adaptive, specializing and de‑optimisation phases, and walks through the actual source‑code implementation using the LOAD_GLOBAL instruction as a concrete example.
Guido van Rossum revealed that the new “Shannon Plan” backed by Microsoft will target a 2× speed boost for CPython 3.11 through a specialized bytecode interpreter, stack optimizations, and other enhancements, while preserving ABI compatibility and open‑source principles.
Guido van Rossum’s recent “Making CPython Faster” talk reveals the Shannon Plan—a four‑year effort, backed by Microsoft, to boost Python’s performance up to five times, with the first milestone targeting a 2× speedup in the upcoming Python 3.11 release through adaptive bytecode interpreters and other optimizations.
