Before interacting with any of the objects or APIs provided by the

``Python.Runtime`` namespace, calling code must have acquired the Python

global interpreter lock by calling the ``PythonEngine.AcquireLock``

method. The only exception to this rule is the

``PythonEngine.Initialize`` method, which may be called at startup

without having acquired the GIL.

When finished using Python APIs, managed code must call a corresponding

``PythonEngine.ReleaseLock`` to release the GIL and allow other threads

to use Python.

A ``using`` statement may be used to acquire and release the GIL:

global interpreter lock by ``using'' ``Py.GIL()``. The only exception to

this rule is the ``PythonEngine.Initialize`` method, which may be called

at startup without having acquired the GIL. The GIL is released again

by disposing the return value of `Py.GIL()`:

..code::csharp

TheAcquireLock and ReleaseLock methods arethinwrappers over the

unmanaged``PyGILState_Ensure`` and ``PyGILState_Release``functions

from the Python API, and the documentation for those APIs applies to the

managed versions.

The``Py.GIL()'' object is athinwrapper over the unmanaged

``PyGILState_Ensure``(on construction)and ``PyGILState_Release``(on

disposal) functionsfrom the Python API, and the documentation for those

APIs applies to themanaged versions.

Passing C# Objects to the Python Engine