[Python-Dev] Import lock considered mysterious

[Paul Moore]

On 22 July 2011 10:29, Greg Ewing <greg.ewing at canterbury.ac.nz> wrote:
> The reason for *that* was that my main module was a stub
> that imported the real main module, which did all its
> work directly from the module code. So the whole program
> was effectively running inside an import statement and
> holding onto the import lock.

I realise you probably know this, but I think this is covered by the
standard advice to avoid having substantial code running at module
level (i.e., on import). It may be useful to clarify or further
emphasize that advice in the Python documentation.

Paul.

PS This is not to say that I oppose trying to reduce the chance of
this type of thing happening...