Re: Functions that steal references (Re: [pygame] [patch] minor memory leaks...)

[Lenard Lindstrom <len-l@xxxxxxxxx>]

Greg Ewing wrote:
> Lenard Lindstrom wrote:
>
> > I assumed that since PyModule_AddObject is documented as stealing a 
> > reference, it always stole a reference. But in reality it only does 
> > so conditionally, when it succeeds.
>
> As an aside, is this a general feature of functions
> that steal references, or is PyModule_AddObject an
> oddity?
>
> I ask because I've been thinking about adding features
> to Pyrex for dealing with stolen references, and it
> could be important to know things like this.
>
> Also, if it's an oddity, it would be a good idea
> to mention this behaviour in the docs.
Hi Greg,

What a function that steals a reference does with an error is 
undocumented. PyModule_AddObject only steals a referenece when it 
succeeds. PyList_SetItem and PyTuple_SetItem always steals a reference. 
The only way to find out which is the case is to examine the Python 
source code.

Lenard