[XML-SIG] qp API

[Paul Prescod]

Dieter Maurer wrote:
> 
> But there is no difference in runtime behavior (O(N)),
> whether the close() is explicite or implicite (i.e. because
> the reference count reaches 0).

Yeah, I realized that later. Python allows you to forget that it is doing
a lot of work under the covers. Even so, close() is Python code and
refcount cleanup is in the heart of the interpreter.

> The real problem with an explicite close() are dangling
> references. Assume, the application has a reference to
> an inner node in the document tree. The close() would
> probably remove all parent pointers from the subtree

You wouldn't really have a dangling reference -- you would have a
reference to a node that no longer knows its parent. But that is still not
ideal.

-- 
 Paul Prescod  - ISOGEN Consulting Engineer speaking for only himself
 http://itrc.uwaterloo.ca/~papresco

Company spokeswoman Lana Simon stressed that Interactive 
Yoda is not a Furby. Well, not exactly. 

"This is an interactive toy that utilizes Furby technology," 
Simon said. "It will react to its surroundings and will talk." 
  - http://www.wired.com/news/news/culture/story/19222.html