Is memory use restricted in python threads?

Question

Python 2.7. I have a GUI written with Tkinter that creates a separate thread to run a task so that the GUI is not blocked while it runs. There is no locking implemented anywhere:

class MainWindow(Tkinter.Tk):

    def __init__(self):
        Tkinter.Tk.__init__(self)
        self.initialize()

    def initialize(self):
        # Configure the window, buttons etc

    def button_function(self):
        t = threading.Thread(target=self.myfunction)
        t.daemon = True
        t.start()
        return

    def myfunction(self);
        # Calls a function in an imported module

When I run this the GUI hangs, and then crashes without traceback. It does not crash if I call the function in the main thread (although the GUI does 'freeze' while myfunction is running):

    def button_function(self):
        self.myfunction()   # Runs fine
        return

The function itself can sometimes store several MB in memory while running. Commenting out the larger variables allows the function to return successfully.

I should add that the child thread makes no calls to GUI functions. The GUI is just a wrapper around a separate command line function.

I suspect the correct solution would be to either write out larger variables into temporary files, or re-architect the function to return to the main thread more often.

Is there a restriction on memory usage in child threads, and if so, how is this configured?

Answer 1

There's no memory limit in child threads.

(I encourage favoretti or mcy to post a similar answer for acceptance, so this doesn't join the infinite queue of unanswered questions. There's nothing wrong with OP answering his own question.)