how to count lines in a file ?

[Skip Montanaro]

    >> Not quite. Any cycle containing an object with a __del__ method will
    >> be skipped and left to languish in memory-limbo forever.
    >> 
    Steve> You mean the garbage collector doesn't *collect* data that
    Steve> appears in cycles? That's not my understanding (which doesn't
    Steve> nevessarily mean it's dissonant with reality).

No, just those cycles where at least one of the involved objects contains a
__del__ method.  In those situations, it's the programmer's responsibility
to break the cycle.

-- 
Skip Montanaro
skip at pobox.com
consulting: http://manatee.mojam.com/~skip/resume.html