Memory Management in CPython: Reference Counting and Garbage Collection

The text provides a detailed code walkthrough of how CPython implements memory management, focusing on reference counting and garbage collection (GC). It explains the limitations of reference counting in handling cyclic references and introduces CPython's generational GC with four generations: young, old, and permanent. The text also discusses changes in memory management due to the removal of the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL), including biased reference counting and modifications to the GC implementation. The GC entry point, cycle detection algorithm, and changes in the GC implementation are explained in detail.

• Detailed code walkthrough of CPython's memory management
• Explanation of reference counting and generational garbage collection
• Limitations of reference counting in handling cyclic references
• Introduction of biased reference counting and changes in GC implementation due to GIL removal