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Unlocking Python's Cores:Energy Implications of Removing the GIL

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Abstract:Python's Global Interpreter Lock prevents execution on more than one CPU core at the same time, even when multiple threads are used. However, starting with Python 3.13 an experimental build allows disabling the GIL. While prior work has examined speedup implications of this disabling, the effects on energy consumption and hardware utilization have received less attention. This study measures execution time, CPU utilization, memory usage, and energy consumption using four workload categories: NumPy-based, sequential kernels, threaded numerical workloads, and threaded object workloads, comparing GIL and free-threaded builds of Python 3.14.2.

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From: Jose Montoya [view email]