Failing to start a thread leaves "zombie" thread in "initial" state

[schof]

BPO	7481
Nosy	@gpshead, @pitrou
Files	repro_case.py: Reproduction case for this issue. issue_7481_py27.diff: Patch for Python 2.7

^{Note: these values reflect the state of the issue at the time it was migrated and might not reflect the current state.}

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GitHub fields:

assignee = 'https://github.com/gpshead'
closed_at = <Date 2010-02-28.19:22:03.733>
created_at = <Date 2009-12-11.19:15:39.310>
labels = ['type-bug']
title = 'Failing to start a thread leaves "zombie" thread in "initial" state'
updated_at = <Date 2010-02-28.19:22:03.732>
user = 'https://bugs.python.org/schof'

bugs.python.org fields:

activity = <Date 2010-02-28.19:22:03.732>
actor = 'gregory.p.smith'
assignee = 'gregory.p.smith'
closed = True
closed_date = <Date 2010-02-28.19:22:03.733>
closer = 'gregory.p.smith'
components = []
creation = <Date 2009-12-11.19:15:39.310>
creator = 'schof'
dependencies = []
files = ['15527', '16399']
hgrepos = []
issue_num = 7481
keywords = ['patch']
message_count = 5.0
messages = ['96271', '96305', '100213', '100215', '100217']
nosy_count = 6.0
nosy_names = ['gregory.p.smith', 'pitrou', 'jyasskin', 'gps', 'nirai', 'schof']
pr_nums = []
priority = 'normal'
resolution = 'accepted'
stage = 'needs patch'
status = 'closed'
superseder = None
type = 'behavior'
url = 'https://bugs.python.org/issue7481'
versions = ['Python 2.6', 'Python 3.1', 'Python 2.7', 'Python 3.2']

[schof]

SUMMARY: When you attempt to start a thread, and you're unable to (you
get thread.error) it leaves a thread stuck in an "initial" state that
never exits. (threading.enumerate() shows the threads and lists their
status as "initial.")

REPRODUCTION STEPS: See attached file.

EXPECTED RESULT: Failing to start a thread should not leave the thread
in an un-executable state. I would expect the thread start to either
succeed or result in the thread being closed and GC'd.

VERIFIED ON:
Python 2.5.2 on OS X 10.5.8
Python 2.5.2 on Ubuntu 8.04
Python 2.5.4 on Windows XP Professional (Version 2002) SP3
Python 2.6.1 on OS X 10.6.2

[pitrou]

I can reproduce it under Linux using "ulimit -Su 2600".
(deselecting 2.5 as it doesn't receive bug fixes anymore)

[nirai]

Here is a patch

[gpshead]

fixed in trunk r78517 and release26-maint r78518.

still needs merging into py3k and release31-maint

[gpshead]

r78519 r78520 for py3k and 3.1.