"Windows fatal Exception: access violation" while testing 3.13.0b1 free-threading build (related to tkinter ?)

[stonebig]

Crash report

What happened?

doing pytest on my github repository "sqlite-bro" , with Python-3.13.0b1 augmented per:

• "with free-threading binaries download" option checked
• tempfile.py patched with "_os.mkdir(file)" (zooba magic potion)
• python3.13t.exe renamed python.exe
• pythonw3.13t.exe renamed pythonw.exe

I get a crash

C:\Users\stonebig\Documents\GitHub\sqlite_bro>pytest
====================================================================== test session starts =======================================================================
platform win32 -- Python 3.13.0b1, pytest-8.2.0, pluggy-1.5.0
rootdir: C:\Users\stonebig\Documents\GitHub\sqlite_bro
configfile: pyproject.toml
collecting ... Windows fatal exception: access violation

Current thread 0x00006b84 (most recent call first):
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 488 in _call_with_frames_removed
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap_external>", line 1315 in create_module
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 813 in module_from_spec
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 921 in _load_unlocked
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1331 in _find_and_load_unlocked
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1360 in _find_and_load
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\tkinter\__init__.py", line 38 in <module>
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 488 in _call_with_frames_removed
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap_external>", line 1021 in exec_module
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 935 in _load_unlocked
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1331 in _find_and_load_unlocked
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1360 in _find_and_load
  File "C:\Users\stonebig\Documents\GitHub\sqlite_bro\sqlite_bro\sqlite_bro.py", line 23 in <module>
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 488 in _call_with_frames_removed
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap_external>", line 1021 in exec_module
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 935 in _load_unlocked
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1331 in _find_and_load_unlocked
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1360 in _find_and_load
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 488 in _call_with_frames_removed
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1415 in _handle_fromlist
  File "C:\Users\stonebig\Documents\GitHub\sqlite_bro\sqlite_bro\tests\test_general.py", line 7 in <module>
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\assertion\rewrite.py", line 178 in exec_module
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 935 in _load_unlocked
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1331 in _find_and_load_unlocked
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1360 in _find_and_load
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1387 in _gcd_import
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\importlib\__init__.py", line 88 in import_module
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\pathlib.py", line 591 in import_path
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\python.py", line 487 in importtestmodule
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\python.py", line 540 in _getobj
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\python.py", line 282 in obj
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\python.py", line 556 in _register_setup_module_fixture
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\python.py", line 543 in collect
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\runner.py", line 389 in collect
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\runner.py", line 341 in from_call
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\runner.py", line 391 in pytest_make_collect_report
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\pluggy\_callers.py", line 103 in _multicall
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\pluggy\_manager.py", line 120 in _hookexec
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\pluggy\_hooks.py", line 513 in __call__
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\runner.py", line 565 in collect_one_node
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\main.py", line 837 in _collect_one_node
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\main.py", line 974 in genitems
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\main.py", line 979 in genitems
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\main.py", line 979 in genitems
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\main.py", line 979 in genitems
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\main.py", line 811 in perform_collect
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\main.py", line 349 in pytest_collection
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\pluggy\_callers.py", line 103 in _multicall
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\pluggy\_manager.py", line 120 in _hookexec
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\pluggy\_hooks.py", line 513 in __call__
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\main.py", line 338 in _main
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\main.py", line 285 in wrap_session
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\main.py", line 332 in pytest_cmdline_main
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\pluggy\_callers.py", line 103 in _multicall
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\pluggy\_manager.py", line 120 in _hookexec
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\pluggy\_hooks.py", line 513 in __call__
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\config\__init__.py", line 178 in main
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Lib\site-packages\_pytest\config\__init__.py", line 206 in console_main
  File "C:...\WPy64-31300b1\python-3.13.0b1.amd64\Scripts\pytest.exe\__main__.py", line 7 in <module>
  File "<frozen runpy>", line 88 in _run_code
  File "<frozen runpy>", line 198 in _run_module_as_main

on 3.13.0b1 patched the same but not Free-threading all seems ok

================================================= test session starts =================================================
platform win32 -- Python 3.13.0b1, pytest-8.2.0, pluggy-1.5.0
rootdir: C:\Users\stonebig\Documents\GitHub\sqlite_bro
configfile: pyproject.toml
collected 3 items

sqlite_bro\tests\test_general.py ...                                                                             [100%]

================================================== 3 passed in 0.76s ==================================================

I did that test because IDLE doesn't want to start and doesn't say why.
Package set used:

Package         Version      Summary
_______________ ____________ ______________________________________________________________________
build           1.1.1        A simple, correct Python build frontend
colorama        0.4.6        Cross-platform colored terminal text.
iniconfig       2.0.0        brain-dead simple config-ini parsing
packaging       23.2         Core utilities for Python packages
pip             24.0         The PyPA recommended tool for installing Python packages.
pluggy          1.5.0        plugin and hook calling mechanisms for python
pyproject-hooks 1.0.0        Wrappers to call pyproject.toml-based build backend hooks.
pytest          8.2.0        pytest: simple powerful testing with Python
setuptools      69.2.0       Easily download, build, install, upgrade, and uninstall Python package
sqlite-bro      0.13.1       a graphic SQLite Client in 1 Python file
wheel           0.43.0       A built-package format for Python
winpython       8.0.20240512 WinPython distribution tools, including WPPM

CPython versions tested on:

CPython main branch

Operating systems tested on:

Windows

Output from running 'python -VV' on the command line:

Python 3.13.0b1 (tags/v3.13.0b1:2268289, May 8 2024, 12:31:50) [MSC v.1938 64 bit (AMD64)]

Linked PRs

• gh-118973: Add _tkinter to freethreaded MSI #126768
• [3.13] gh-118973: Add _tkinter to freethreaded MSI (GH-126768) #126867

[stonebig]

maybe related to this still missing piece ? colesbury/nogil-3.12@78825e0508

[KRRT7]

simply importing

from tkinter.filedialog import askopenfile

crashes 3.13t for me, which is imported in the sqlite_bro project. hope this helps narrow down the issue.

[stonebig]

By the look of current early state of free-threading, we may assume the tkinter/free-threading is rather a 2025 question, with uncertain fate.

[python-zhong]

I tried to use WinDbg to debug it, and found:

[mishaturnbull]

+1 for this happening on Windows only, version 3.13.0 (non-beta, release day build). I see exactly the same error as @python-zhong when running python3.13t.exe -m tkinter under WinDbg (no pytest involved). The tkinter test dialog launches and operates correctly when not in free-threading mode (GIL enabled) on the same machine. I tested the same command on a Debian platform (compiled the same 3.13.0 tag), and it worked flawlessly in free-threaded mode. Don't have a mac to test on, unfortunately.

Platform details:

• Windows 10 22H2 build 19045.4894

  • py -3.13 -VV --> Python 3.13.0 (tags/v3.13.0:60403a5, Oct 7 2024, 09:38:07) [MSC v.1941 64 bit (AMD64)]
  • py -3.13t -VV --> Python 3.13.0 experimental free-threading build (tags/v3.13.0:60403a5, Oct 7 2024, 09:53:29) [MSC v.1941 64 bit (AMD64)]

• Linux [hostname] 5.10.0-32-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 5.10.223-1 (2024-08-10) x86_64 GNU/Linux

  • ./python -VV --> Python 3.13.0 experimental free-threading build (tags/v3.13.0:60403a5409, Oct 8 2024, 23:03:36) [GCC 10.2.1 20210110]

[colesbury]

@zooba The official Windows installer (with free-threading binaries) only includes a Python313\DLLs\_tkinter.pyd. There's no _tkinter.cp313t-win_amd64, so importing tkinter in py -3.13t crashes as it tries to load an incompatible extension.

Do you know why that's happening?

[terryjreedy]

As noted in #125179 (comment), I have run tkinter and IDLE on debug + free-threading builds since last March. But I never tried the installers. Of course, PCbuild/amd64 has a full set of _xyz_d.cp314t-win_amd64.ext files. I'm sorry I did not notice this issue before.

[mishaturnbull]

Yep, figured out the free-threading build on the same Windows box (sorry about the delay, Visual Studio noob), and when compiled locally tkinter operates flawlessly on free-threading.

Admittedly, I've just compiled Cpython for the first time yesterday -- but, if this is simple to fix, I'd be happy to submit a PR for it if that would help?

[zooba]

The official Windows installer (with free-threading binaries) only includes a Python313\DLLs\_tkinter.pyd. There's no _tkinter.cp313t-win_amd64

Yeah, looks like I copied the list of extensions from the lib package but not the tcltk package. Easy enough to add it in, I'll get it