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To: python-list@python.org
From: Lie Ryan <lie.1296@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Is a with on open always necessary?
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:22:52 +1100
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On 01/26/2012 04:17 AM, K Richard Pixley wrote:
> On 1/21/12 03:38 , Lie Ryan wrote:
>> It is only strictly necessary for programs that opens thousands of files
>> in a short while, since the operating system may limit of the number of
>> active file handlers you can have.
>
> The number you're looking for is 20 on many unix systems. That's all. 20
> concurrently open file descriptors.
>
> Modern systems open that number up somewhat, or make it tailorable. But
> the number is still much lower than you might expect.

 From what I can gather, Linux defaults to 1024, Windows 16384, and OSX 
256; I doubt many people would need to work with other OSes.