[ python-Bugs-1643738 ] Problem with signals in a single-threaded application

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Bugs item #1643738, was opened at 2007-01-24 16:14
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Category: Python Library
Group: Python 2.5
Status: Open
Resolution: None
Priority: 5
Private: No
Submitted By: Ulisses Furquim (ulissesf)
Assigned to: Nobody/Anonymous (nobody)
Summary: Problem with signals in a single-threaded application

Initial Comment:
I'm aware of the problems with signals in a multithreaded application, but I was using signals in a single-threaded application and noticed something that seemed wrong. Some signals were apparently being lost, but when another signal came in the python handler for that "lost" signal was being called.

The problem seems to be inside the signal module. The global variable is_tripped is incremented every time a signal arrives. Then, inside PyErr_CheckSignals() (the pending call that calls all python handlers for signals that arrived) we can return immediately if is_tripped is zero. If is_tripped is different than zero, we loop through all signals calling the registered python handlers and after that we zero is_tripped. This seems to be ok, but what happens if a signal arrives after we've returned from its handler (or even after we've checked if that signal arrived) and before we zero is_tripped? I guess we can have a situation where is_tripped is zero but some Handlers[i].tripped are not. In fact, I've inserted some debugging output and could see that this actually happens and then I've written the attached test program to reproduce the problem.

When we run this program, the handler for the SIGALRM isn't called after we return from the  SIGIO handler. We return to our main loop and print 'Loop!' every 3 seconds aprox. and the SIGALRM handler is called only when another signal arrives (like when we hit Ctrl-C).


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