Python 3.13 has finally been released after a slight delay due to performance issues in the final beta. The most significant aspect of this version is the addition of the ability to close the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL), which may take more than 5 years to fully implement.
Amongst other changes, there have been numerous modifications that can be utilized even before the GIL is completely closed, such as:
– New interpreter: Syntax highlighting, multi-line code editing, clearer error points displayed
– dbm module: SQLite storage added and set to become the standard storage
– docstring: Data storage format adjusted by removing all leading spaces, reducing memory usage
Apart from these features, outdated libraries are being removed as previously announced since 2022, some C API functions are being removed, and plans are in place to remove additional features in versions 3.15/3.16.
In terms of platform support, WebAssembly has been upgraded to Tier-2 support, equivalent to Linux/Arm64 (patches will be fixed within 24 hours), and Android/iOS support has been downgraded to Tier-3 (continuous builds, but no guarantee of new patches causing issues on these platforms).
TLDR: Python 3.13 is out with the ability to close the GIL, along with various other improvements and platform support adjustments.
Leave a Comment