feat: add #[pyo3(allow_threads)] to release the GIL in (async) functions

Author: wyfo

newsfragments/3610.added.md

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Add `#[pyo3(allow_threads)]` to release the GIL in (async) functions

pyo3-macros-backend/src/attributes.rs

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use syn::{
 };
 
 pub mod kw {
+    syn::custom_keyword!(allow_threads);
     syn::custom_keyword!(annotation);
     syn::custom_keyword!(attribute);
     syn::custom_keyword!(cancel_handle);

pyo3-macros-backend/src/method.rs

@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 use std::fmt::Display;
 
 use proc_macro2::{Span, TokenStream};
-use quote::{quote, quote_spanned, ToTokens};
+use quote::{format_ident, quote, quote_spanned, ToTokens};
 use syn::{ext::IdentExt, spanned::Spanned, Ident, Result};
 
 use crate::{
+    attributes,
     attributes::{TextSignatureAttribute, TextSignatureAttributeValue},
     deprecations::{Deprecation, Deprecations},
     params::impl_arg_params,
@@ -241,6 +242,7 @@ pub struct FnSpec<'a> {
     pub asyncness: Option<syn::Token![async]>,
     pub unsafety: Option<syn::Token![unsafe]>,
     pub deprecations: Deprecations,
+    pub allow_threads: Option<attributes::kw::allow_threads>,
 }
 
 pub fn get_return_info(output: &syn::ReturnType) -> syn::Type {
@@ -284,6 +286,7 @@ impl<'a> FnSpec<'a> {
             text_signature,
             name,
             signature,
+            allow_threads,
             ..
         } = options;
 
@@ -331,6 +334,7 @@ impl<'a> FnSpec<'a> {
             asyncness: sig.asyncness,
             unsafety: sig.unsafety,
             deprecations,
+            allow_threads,
         })
     }
 
@@ -474,6 +478,7 @@ impl<'a> FnSpec<'a> {
         }
 
         let rust_call = |args: Vec<TokenStream>| {
+            let allow_threads = self.allow_threads.is_some();
             let call = if self.asyncness.is_some() {
                 let throw_callback = if cancel_handle.is_some() {
                     quote! { Some(__throw_callback) }
@@ -502,6 +507,7 @@ impl<'a> FnSpec<'a> {
                         _pyo3::intern!(py, stringify!(#python_name)),
                         #qualname_prefix,
                         #throw_callback,
+                        #allow_threads,
                         async move { _pyo3::impl_::wrap::OkWrap::wrap(future.await) },
                     )
                 }};
@@ -513,6 +519,25 @@ impl<'a> FnSpec<'a> {
                     }};
                 }
                 call
+            } else if allow_threads {
+                let (self_arg_name, self_arg_decl) = if self_arg.is_empty() {
+                    (quote!(), quote!())
+                } else {
+                    (quote!(__self), quote! { let __self = #self_arg; })
+                };
+                let arg_names: Vec<Ident> = (0..args.len())
+                    .map(|i| format_ident!("__arg{}", i))
+                    .collect();
+                let arg_decls: Vec<TokenStream> = args
+                    .into_iter()
+                    .zip(&arg_names)
+                    .map(|(arg, name)| quote! { let #name = #arg; })
+                    .collect();
+                quote! {{
+                    #self_arg_decl
+                    #(#arg_decls)*
+                    py.allow_threads(|| function(#self_arg_name #(#arg_names),*))
+                }}
             } else {
                 quote! { function(#self_arg #(#args),*) }
             };

pyo3-macros-backend/src/pyfunction.rs

@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ pub struct PyFunctionOptions {
     pub signature: Option<SignatureAttribute>,
     pub text_signature: Option<TextSignatureAttribute>,
     pub krate: Option<CrateAttribute>,
+    pub allow_threads: Option<attributes::kw::allow_threads>,
 }
 
 impl Parse for PyFunctionOptions {
@@ -99,7 +100,8 @@ impl Parse for PyFunctionOptions {
 
         while !input.is_empty() {
             let lookahead = input.lookahead1();
-            if lookahead.peek(attributes::kw::name)
+            if lookahead.peek(attributes::kw::allow_threads)
+                || lookahead.peek(attributes::kw::name)
                 || lookahead.peek(attributes::kw::pass_module)
                 || lookahead.peek(attributes::kw::signature)
                 || lookahead.peek(attributes::kw::text_signature)
@@ -121,6 +123,7 @@ impl Parse for PyFunctionOptions {
 }
 
 pub enum PyFunctionOption {
+    AllowThreads(attributes::kw::allow_threads),
     Name(NameAttribute),
     PassModule(attributes::kw::pass_module),
     Signature(SignatureAttribute),
@@ -131,7 +134,9 @@ pub enum PyFunctionOption {
 impl Parse for PyFunctionOption {
     fn parse(input: ParseStream<'_>) -> Result<Self> {
         let lookahead = input.lookahead1();
-        if lookahead.peek(attributes::kw::name) {
+        if lookahead.peek(attributes::kw::allow_threads) {
+            input.parse().map(PyFunctionOption::AllowThreads)
+        } else if lookahead.peek(attributes::kw::name) {
             input.parse().map(PyFunctionOption::Name)
         } else if lookahead.peek(attributes::kw::pass_module) {
             input.parse().map(PyFunctionOption::PassModule)
@@ -171,6 +176,7 @@ impl PyFunctionOptions {
         }
         for attr in attrs {
             match attr {
+                PyFunctionOption::AllowThreads(allow_threads) => set_option!(allow_threads),
                 PyFunctionOption::Name(name) => set_option!(name),
                 PyFunctionOption::PassModule(pass_module) => set_option!(pass_module),
                 PyFunctionOption::Signature(signature) => set_option!(signature),
@@ -198,6 +204,7 @@ pub fn impl_wrap_pyfunction(
 ) -> syn::Result<TokenStream> {
     check_generic(&func.sig)?;
     let PyFunctionOptions {
+        allow_threads,
         pass_module,
         name,
         signature,
@@ -247,6 +254,7 @@ pub fn impl_wrap_pyfunction(
         signature,
         output: ty,
         text_signature,
+        allow_threads,
         asyncness: func.sig.asyncness,
         unsafety: func.sig.unsafety,
         deprecations: Deprecations::new(),

pyo3-macros/src/lib.rs

@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ pub fn pymethods(attr: TokenStream, input: TokenStream) -> TokenStream {
 /// | `#[pyo3(name = "...")]` | Defines the name of the function in Python. |
 /// | `#[pyo3(text_signature = "...")]` | Defines the `__text_signature__` attribute of the function in Python. |
 /// | `#[pyo3(pass_module)]` | Passes the module containing the function as a `&PyModule` first argument to the function. |
+/// | `#[pyo3(allow_threads)]` | Release the GIL in the function body, or each time the returned future is polled for `async fn` |
 ///
 /// For more on exposing functions see the [function section of the guide][1].
 ///

src/coroutine.rs

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ pub struct Coroutine {
     name: Option<Py<PyString>>,
     qualname_prefix: Option<&'static str>,
     throw_callback: Option<ThrowCallback>,
+    allow_threads: bool,
     future: Option<Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = PyResult<PyObject>> + Send>>>,
     waker: Option<Arc<AsyncioWaker>>,
 }
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ impl Coroutine {
         name: Option<Py<PyString>>,
         qualname_prefix: Option<&'static str>,
         throw_callback: Option<ThrowCallback>,
+        allow_threads: bool,
         future: F,
     ) -> Self
     where
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@ impl Coroutine {
             name,
             qualname_prefix,
             throw_callback,
+            allow_threads,
             future: Some(Box::pin(wrap)),
             waker: None,
         }
@@ -96,7 +99,13 @@ impl Coroutine {
         let waker = Waker::from(self.waker.clone().unwrap());
         // poll the Rust future and forward its results if ready
         // polling is UnwindSafe because the future is dropped in case of panic
-        let poll = || future_rs.as_mut().poll(&mut Context::from_waker(&waker));
+        let poll = || {
+            if self.allow_threads {
+                py.allow_threads(|| future_rs.as_mut().poll(&mut Context::from_waker(&waker)))
+            } else {
+                future_rs.as_mut().poll(&mut Context::from_waker(&waker))
+            }
+        };
         match panic::catch_unwind(panic::AssertUnwindSafe(poll)) {
             Ok(Poll::Ready(res)) => {
                 self.close();

src/gil.rs

@@ -1,14 +1,18 @@
 //! Interaction with Python's global interpreter lock
 
-use crate::impl_::not_send::{NotSend, NOT_SEND};
-use crate::{ffi, Python};
-use parking_lot::{const_mutex, Mutex, Once};
-use std::cell::Cell;
 #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
 use std::cell::RefCell;
 #[cfg(not(debug_assertions))]
 use std::cell::UnsafeCell;
-use std::{mem, ptr::NonNull};
+use std::{cell::Cell, mem, ptr::NonNull};
+
+use parking_lot::{const_mutex, Mutex, Once};
+
+use crate::{
+    ffi,
+    impl_::not_send::{NotSend, NOT_SEND},
+    Python,
+};
 
 static START: Once = Once::new();
 
@@ -506,11 +510,13 @@ fn decrement_gil_count() {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use super::{gil_is_acquired, GILPool, GIL_COUNT, OWNED_OBJECTS, POOL};
-    use crate::{ffi, gil, PyObject, Python, ToPyObject};
+    use std::ptr::NonNull;
+
     #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
     use parking_lot::{const_mutex, Condvar, Mutex};
-    use std::ptr::NonNull;
+
+    use super::{gil_is_acquired, GILPool, GIL_COUNT, OWNED_OBJECTS, POOL};
+    use crate::{ffi, gil, PyObject, Python, ToPyObject};
 
     fn get_object(py: Python<'_>) -> PyObject {
         // Convenience function for getting a single unique object, using `new_pool` so as to leave
@@ -786,9 +792,10 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))] // We are building wasm Python with pthreads disabled
     fn test_clone_without_gil() {
-        use crate::{Py, PyAny};
         use std::{sync::Arc, thread};
 
+        use crate::{Py, PyAny};
+
         // Some events for synchronizing
         static GIL_ACQUIRED: Event = Event::new();
         static OBJECT_CLONED: Event = Event::new();
@@ -851,9 +858,10 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))] // We are building wasm Python with pthreads disabled
     fn test_clone_in_other_thread() {
-        use crate::Py;
         use std::{sync::Arc, thread};
 
+        use crate::Py;
+
         // Some events for synchronizing
         static OBJECT_CLONED: Event = Event::new();
 
@@ -925,4 +933,46 @@ mod tests {
             POOL.update_counts(py);
         })
     }
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "macros")]
+    #[test]
+    fn allow_threads_fn() {
+        #[crate::pyfunction(allow_threads, crate = "crate")]
+        fn without_gil() {
+            GIL_COUNT.with(|c| assert_eq!(c.get(), 0));
+        }
+        Python::with_gil(|gil| {
+            let without_gil = crate::wrap_pyfunction!(without_gil, gil).unwrap();
+            crate::py_run!(gil, without_gil, "without_gil()");
+        })
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "macros")]
+    #[test]
+    fn allow_threads_async_fn() {
+        #[crate::pyfunction(allow_threads, crate = "crate")]
+        async fn without_gil() {
+            use std::task::Poll;
+            GIL_COUNT.with(|c| assert_eq!(c.get(), 0));
+            let mut ready = false;
+            futures::future::poll_fn(|cx| {
+                if ready {
+                    return Poll::Ready(());
+                }
+                ready = true;
+                cx.waker().wake_by_ref();
+                Poll::Pending
+            })
+            .await;
+            GIL_COUNT.with(|c| assert_eq!(c.get(), 0));
+        }
+        Python::with_gil(|gil| {
+            let without_gil = crate::wrap_pyfunction!(without_gil, gil).unwrap();
+            crate::py_run!(
+                gil,
+                without_gil,
+                "import asyncio; asyncio.run(without_gil())"
+            );
+        })
+    }
 }

src/impl_/coroutine.rs

@@ -15,14 +15,21 @@ pub fn new_coroutine<F, T, E>(
     name: &PyString,
     qualname_prefix: Option<&'static str>,
     throw_callback: Option<ThrowCallback>,
+    allow_threads: bool,
     future: F,
 ) -> Coroutine
 where
     F: Future<Output = Result<T, E>> + Send + 'static,
     T: IntoPy<PyObject>,
     E: Into<PyErr>,
 {
-    Coroutine::new(Some(name.into()), qualname_prefix, throw_callback, future)
+    Coroutine::new(
+        Some(name.into()),
+        qualname_prefix,
+        throw_callback,
+        allow_threads,
+        future,
+    )
 }
 
 fn get_ptr<T: PyClass>(obj: &Py<T>) -> *mut T {

tests/ui/invalid_pyfunction_signatures.stderr

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ error: expected argument from function definition `y` but got argument `x`
 13 | #[pyo3(signature = (x))]
    |                     ^
 
-error: expected one of: `name`, `pass_module`, `signature`, `text_signature`, `crate`
+error: expected one of: `allow_threads`, `name`, `pass_module`, `signature`, `text_signature`, `crate`
   --> tests/ui/invalid_pyfunction_signatures.rs:18:14
    |
 18 | #[pyfunction(x)]