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gh-146907: Clarify ABI compatibility between debug and release builds #146925

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gh-146907: Clarify ABI compatibility between debug and release builds
konstin Mar 31, 2026
e01bf04
Update Python 3.8 release notes
konstin Apr 1, 2026
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6 changes: 4 additions & 2 deletions Doc/using/configure.rst
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Expand Up @@ -906,9 +906,11 @@ See also the :ref:`Python Development Mode <devmode>` and the
:option:`--with-trace-refs` configure option.

.. versionchanged:: 3.8
Release builds and debug builds are now ABI compatible: defining the
Release builds are now ABI compatible with debug builds: defining the
``Py_DEBUG`` macro no longer implies the ``Py_TRACE_REFS`` macro (see the
:option:`--with-trace-refs` option).
:option:`--with-trace-refs` option). However, debug builds still expose
more symbols than release builds and code built against a debug build is not
necessarily compatible with a release build.


Debug options
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17 changes: 9 additions & 8 deletions Doc/whatsnew/3.8.rst
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Expand Up @@ -207,14 +207,15 @@ subdirectories).
Debug build uses the same ABI as release build
-----------------------------------------------

Python now uses the same ABI whether it's built in release or debug mode. On
Unix, when Python is built in debug mode, it is now possible to load C
extensions built in release mode and C extensions built using the stable ABI.

Release builds and :ref:`debug builds <debug-build>` are now ABI compatible: defining the
``Py_DEBUG`` macro no longer implies the ``Py_TRACE_REFS`` macro, which
introduces the only ABI incompatibility. The ``Py_TRACE_REFS`` macro, which
adds the :func:`sys.getobjects` function and the :envvar:`PYTHONDUMPREFS`
The ABI of Python :ref:`debug builds <debug-build>` is now compatible with
Python release builds. On Unix, when Python is built in debug mode, it is now
possible to load C extensions built in release mode and C extensions built
using the stable ABI. The inverse is not true, as debug builds expose
additional symbols not available in release builds.

Defining the ``Py_DEBUG`` macro no longer implies the ``Py_TRACE_REFS`` macro,
which introduces the only ABI incompatibility. The ``Py_TRACE_REFS`` macro,
which adds the :func:`sys.getobjects` function and the :envvar:`PYTHONDUMPREFS`
environment variable, can be set using the new :option:`./configure
--with-trace-refs <--with-trace-refs>` build option.
(Contributed by Victor Stinner in :issue:`36465`.)
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