Python 3.2 - GIL - good/bad?

Question

Python 3.2 ALPHA is out.

From the Change Log, it appears the GIL has been entirely rewritten.

A few questions:

1. Is having a GIL good or bad? (and wh

Answer 1

The best explanation I've seen as to why the GIL sucks is here:

http://www.dabeaz.com/python/GIL.pdf

And the same guy has a presentation on the new GIL here:

http://www.dabeaz.com/python/NewGIL.pdf

If that's all that's been done it still sucks - just not as bad. Multiple threads will behave better. Multi-core will still do nothing for you with a single python app.