C API: Enable limited C API tests on Free Threading
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- Python
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Description
Currently, the _testlimitedcapi extension module is not built with the limited C API on Free Threading which is misleading and defeats the purpose of this extension.
PEP 803 added Py_TARGET_ABI3T macro to Python 3.15 which makes it possible to build a C extension using the limited C API when using Free Threading. So I propose building _testlimitedcapi using Py_TARGET_ABI3T to test properly the limited C API on Free Threading.
One limitation is that Py_TARGET_ABI3T minimum version is Python 3.15, whereas _testlimitedcapi/<file>.c files target older Python versions. Anyway, we have to only define Py_TARGET_ABI3T on Free Threading, or define Py_LIMITED_API macro otherwise (build with GIL). Example:
#include "pyconfig.h" // Py_GIL_DISABLED
#ifdef Py_GIL_DISABLED
# define Py_TARGET_ABI3T 0x030f0000
#else
// Need limited C API version 3.13 for Py_GetConstant()
# define Py_LIMITED_API 0x030d0000
#endif
Linked PRs
- gh-155570
- gh-155693
- gh-156052
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start with the _testlimitedcapi/.c sources and the pyconfig.h macros described in the issue, then inspect how _testlimitedcapi is built for Free Threading. Check the limited C API tests under the _testlimitedcapi extension and confirm they build and run with Py_TARGET_ABI3T on Free Threading while retaining Py_LIMITED_API for GIL builds.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- c, python
- Domain
- testing-qa
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 25/100