VGC: A Novel Garbage Collector for Python

Published:Dec 29, 2025 05:24
1 min read
ArXiv

Analysis

This paper introduces VGC, a new garbage collector architecture for Python that aims to improve performance across various systems. The dual-layer approach, combining compile-time and runtime optimizations, is a key innovation. The paper claims significant improvements in pause times, memory usage, and scalability, making it relevant for memory-intensive applications, especially in parallel environments. The focus on both low-level and high-level programming environments suggests a broad applicability.

Reference

Active VGC dynamically manages runtime objects using a concurrent mark and sweep strategy tailored for parallel workloads, reducing pause times by up to 30 percent compared to generational collectors in multithreaded benchmarks.