Don't hold the GIL when calling anything in core

src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/call.pyx.pxi

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright 2015, Google Inc.
+# Copyright 2015-2016, Google Inc.
 # All rights reserved.
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -40,14 +40,17 @@ cdef class Call:
   def start_batch(self, operations, tag):
     if not self.is_valid:
       raise ValueError("invalid call object cannot be used from Python")
+    cdef grpc_call_error result
     cdef Operations cy_operations = Operations(operations)
     cdef OperationTag operation_tag = OperationTag(tag)
     operation_tag.operation_call = self
     operation_tag.batch_operations = cy_operations
     cpython.Py_INCREF(operation_tag)
-    return grpc_call_start_batch(
-        self.c_call, cy_operations.c_ops, cy_operations.c_nops,
-        <cpython.PyObject *>operation_tag, NULL)
+    with nogil:
+      result = grpc_call_start_batch(
+          self.c_call, cy_operations.c_ops, cy_operations.c_nops,
+          <cpython.PyObject *>operation_tag, NULL)
+    return result
 
   def cancel(
       self, grpc_status_code error_code=GRPC_STATUS__DO_NOT_USE,
@@ -57,6 +60,8 @@ cdef class Call:
     if (details is None) != (error_code == GRPC_STATUS__DO_NOT_USE):
       raise ValueError("if error_code is specified, so must details "
                        "(and vice-versa)")
+    cdef grpc_call_error result
+    cdef char *c_details = NULL
     if error_code != GRPC_STATUS__DO_NOT_USE:
       if isinstance(details, bytes):
         pass
@@ -65,25 +70,37 @@ cdef class Call:
       else:
         raise TypeError("expected details to be str or bytes")
       self.references.append(details)
-      return grpc_call_cancel_with_status(
-          self.c_call, error_code, details, NULL)
+      c_details = details
+      with nogil:
+        result = grpc_call_cancel_with_status(
+            self.c_call, error_code, c_details, NULL)
+      return result
     else:
-      return grpc_call_cancel(self.c_call, NULL)
+      with nogil:
+        result = grpc_call_cancel(self.c_call, NULL)
+      return result
 
   def set_credentials(
       self, CallCredentials call_credentials not None):
-    return grpc_call_set_credentials(
-        self.c_call, call_credentials.c_credentials)
+    cdef grpc_call_error result
+    with nogil:
+      result = grpc_call_set_credentials(
+          self.c_call, call_credentials.c_credentials)
+    return result
 
   def peer(self):
-    cdef char *peer = grpc_call_get_peer(self.c_call)
+    cdef char *peer = NULL
+    with nogil:
+      peer = grpc_call_get_peer(self.c_call)
     result = <bytes>peer
-    gpr_free(peer)
+    with nogil:
+      gpr_free(peer)
     return result
 
   def __dealloc__(self):
     if self.c_call != NULL:
-      grpc_call_destroy(self.c_call)
+      with nogil:
+        grpc_call_destroy(self.c_call)
 
   # The object *should* always be valid from Python. Used for debugging.
   @property

src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/channel.pyx.pxi

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ cdef class Channel:
   def __cinit__(self, target, ChannelArgs arguments=None,
                 ChannelCredentials channel_credentials=None):
     cdef grpc_channel_args *c_arguments = NULL
+    cdef char *c_target = NULL
     self.c_channel = NULL
     self.references = []
     if arguments is not None:
@@ -45,12 +46,15 @@ cdef class Channel:
       target = target.encode()
     else:
       raise TypeError("expected target to be str or bytes")
+    c_target = target
     if channel_credentials is None:
-      self.c_channel = grpc_insecure_channel_create(target, c_arguments,
-                                                         NULL)
+      with nogil:
+        self.c_channel = grpc_insecure_channel_create(c_target, c_arguments,
+                                                      NULL)
     else:
-      self.c_channel = grpc_secure_channel_create(
-          channel_credentials.c_credentials, target, c_arguments, NULL)
+      with nogil:
+        self.c_channel = grpc_secure_channel_create(
+            channel_credentials.c_credentials, c_target, c_arguments, NULL)
       self.references.append(channel_credentials)
     self.references.append(target)
     self.references.append(arguments)
@@ -66,6 +70,7 @@ cdef class Channel:
       method = method.encode()
     else:
       raise TypeError("expected method to be str or bytes")
+    cdef char *method_c_string = method
     cdef char *host_c_string = NULL
     if host is None:
       pass
@@ -81,31 +86,40 @@ cdef class Channel:
     cdef grpc_call *parent_call = NULL
     if parent is not None:
       parent_call = parent.c_call
-    operation_call.c_call = grpc_channel_create_call(
-        self.c_channel, parent_call, flags,
-        queue.c_completion_queue, method, host_c_string, deadline.c_time,
-        NULL)
+    with nogil:
+      operation_call.c_call = grpc_channel_create_call(
+          self.c_channel, parent_call, flags,
+          queue.c_completion_queue, method_c_string, host_c_string,
+          deadline.c_time, NULL)
     return operation_call
 
   def check_connectivity_state(self, bint try_to_connect):
-    return grpc_channel_check_connectivity_state(self.c_channel,
-                                                 try_to_connect)
+    cdef grpc_connectivity_state result
+    with nogil:
+      result = grpc_channel_check_connectivity_state(self.c_channel,
+                                                     try_to_connect)
+    return result
 
   def watch_connectivity_state(
       self, grpc_connectivity_state last_observed_state,
       Timespec deadline not None, CompletionQueue queue not None, tag):
     cdef OperationTag operation_tag = OperationTag(tag)
     cpython.Py_INCREF(operation_tag)
-    grpc_channel_watch_connectivity_state(
-        self.c_channel, last_observed_state, deadline.c_time,
-        queue.c_completion_queue, <cpython.PyObject *>operation_tag)
+    with nogil:
+      grpc_channel_watch_connectivity_state(
+          self.c_channel, last_observed_state, deadline.c_time,
+          queue.c_completion_queue, <cpython.PyObject *>operation_tag)
 
   def target(self):
-    cdef char * target = grpc_channel_get_target(self.c_channel)
+    cdef char *target = NULL
+    with nogil:
+      target = grpc_channel_get_target(self.c_channel)
     result = <bytes>target
-    gpr_free(target)
+    with nogil:
+      gpr_free(target)
     return result
 
   def __dealloc__(self):
     if self.c_channel != NULL:
-      grpc_channel_destroy(self.c_channel)
+      with nogil:
+        grpc_channel_destroy(self.c_channel)

src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/completion_queue.pyx.pxi

@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ import time
 cdef class CompletionQueue:
 
   def __cinit__(self):
-    self.c_completion_queue = grpc_completion_queue_create(NULL)
+    with nogil:
+      self.c_completion_queue = grpc_completion_queue_create(NULL)
     self.is_shutting_down = False
     self.is_shutdown = False
     self.pluck_condition = threading.Condition()
@@ -82,8 +83,9 @@ cdef class CompletionQueue:
   def poll(self, Timespec deadline=None):
     # We name this 'poll' to avoid problems with CPython's expectations for
     # 'special' methods (like next and __next__).
-    cdef gpr_timespec c_deadline = gpr_inf_future(
-        GPR_CLOCK_REALTIME)
+    cdef gpr_timespec c_deadline
+    with nogil:
+      c_deadline = gpr_inf_future(GPR_CLOCK_REALTIME)
     if deadline is not None:
       c_deadline = deadline.c_time
     cdef grpc_event event
@@ -123,7 +125,8 @@ cdef class CompletionQueue:
     return self._interpret_event(event)
 
   def shutdown(self):
-    grpc_completion_queue_shutdown(self.c_completion_queue)
+    with nogil:
+      grpc_completion_queue_shutdown(self.c_completion_queue)
     self.is_shutting_down = True
 
   def clear(self):
@@ -133,15 +136,19 @@ cdef class CompletionQueue:
       pass
 
   def __dealloc__(self):
-    cdef gpr_timespec c_deadline = gpr_inf_future(GPR_CLOCK_REALTIME)
+    cdef gpr_timespec c_deadline
+    with nogil:
+      c_deadline = gpr_inf_future(GPR_CLOCK_REALTIME)
     if self.c_completion_queue != NULL:
       # Ensure shutdown
       if not self.is_shutting_down:
-        grpc_completion_queue_shutdown(self.c_completion_queue)
+        with nogil:
+          grpc_completion_queue_shutdown(self.c_completion_queue)
       # Pump the queue
       while not self.is_shutdown:
         with nogil:
           event = grpc_completion_queue_next(
               self.c_completion_queue, c_deadline, NULL)
         self._interpret_event(event)
-      grpc_completion_queue_destroy(self.c_completion_queue)
+      with nogil:
+        grpc_completion_queue_destroy(self.c_completion_queue)

src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/credentials.pyx.pxi

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright 2015, Google Inc.
+# Copyright 2015-2016, Google Inc.
 # All rights reserved.
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ cdef class ChannelCredentials:
 
   def __dealloc__(self):
     if self.c_credentials != NULL:
-      grpc_channel_credentials_release(self.c_credentials)
+      with nogil:
+        grpc_channel_credentials_release(self.c_credentials)
 
 
 cdef class CallCredentials:
@@ -63,7 +64,8 @@ cdef class CallCredentials:
 
   def __dealloc__(self):
     if self.c_credentials != NULL:
-      grpc_call_credentials_release(self.c_credentials)
+      with nogil:
+        grpc_call_credentials_release(self.c_credentials)
 
 
 cdef class ServerCredentials:
@@ -74,7 +76,8 @@ cdef class ServerCredentials:
 
   def __dealloc__(self):
     if self.c_credentials != NULL:
-      grpc_server_credentials_release(self.c_credentials)
+      with nogil:
+        grpc_server_credentials_release(self.c_credentials)
 
 
 cdef class CredentialsMetadataPlugin:
@@ -139,7 +142,8 @@ cdef void plugin_destroy_c_plugin_state(void *state):
 
 def channel_credentials_google_default():
   cdef ChannelCredentials credentials = ChannelCredentials();
-  credentials.c_credentials = grpc_google_default_credentials_create()
+  with nogil:
+    credentials.c_credentials = grpc_google_default_credentials_create()
   return credentials
 
 def channel_credentials_ssl(pem_root_certificates,
@@ -158,12 +162,14 @@ def channel_credentials_ssl(pem_root_certificates,
     c_pem_root_certificates = pem_root_certificates
     credentials.references.append(pem_root_certificates)
   if ssl_pem_key_cert_pair is not None:
-    credentials.c_credentials = grpc_ssl_credentials_create(
-        c_pem_root_certificates, &ssl_pem_key_cert_pair.c_pair, NULL)
+    with nogil:
+      credentials.c_credentials = grpc_ssl_credentials_create(
+          c_pem_root_certificates, &ssl_pem_key_cert_pair.c_pair, NULL)
     credentials.references.append(ssl_pem_key_cert_pair)
   else:
-    credentials.c_credentials = grpc_ssl_credentials_create(
-      c_pem_root_certificates, NULL, NULL)
+    with nogil:
+      credentials.c_credentials = grpc_ssl_credentials_create(
+        c_pem_root_certificates, NULL, NULL)
   return credentials
 
 def channel_credentials_composite(
@@ -172,8 +178,9 @@ def channel_credentials_composite(
   if not credentials_1.is_valid or not credentials_2.is_valid:
     raise ValueError("passed credentials must both be valid")
   cdef ChannelCredentials credentials = ChannelCredentials()
-  credentials.c_credentials = grpc_composite_channel_credentials_create(
-      credentials_1.c_credentials, credentials_2.c_credentials, NULL)
+  with nogil:
+    credentials.c_credentials = grpc_composite_channel_credentials_create(
+        credentials_1.c_credentials, credentials_2.c_credentials, NULL)
   credentials.references.append(credentials_1)
   credentials.references.append(credentials_2)
   return credentials
@@ -184,16 +191,18 @@ def call_credentials_composite(
   if not credentials_1.is_valid or not credentials_2.is_valid:
     raise ValueError("passed credentials must both be valid")
   cdef CallCredentials credentials = CallCredentials()
-  credentials.c_credentials = grpc_composite_call_credentials_create(
-      credentials_1.c_credentials, credentials_2.c_credentials, NULL)
+  with nogil:
+    credentials.c_credentials = grpc_composite_call_credentials_create(
+        credentials_1.c_credentials, credentials_2.c_credentials, NULL)
   credentials.references.append(credentials_1)
   credentials.references.append(credentials_2)
   return credentials
 
 def call_credentials_google_compute_engine():
   cdef CallCredentials credentials = CallCredentials()
-  credentials.c_credentials = (
-      grpc_google_compute_engine_credentials_create(NULL))
+  with nogil:
+    credentials.c_credentials = (
+        grpc_google_compute_engine_credentials_create(NULL))
   return credentials
 
 def call_credentials_service_account_jwt_access(
@@ -205,9 +214,11 @@ def call_credentials_service_account_jwt_access(
   else:
     raise TypeError("expected json_key to be str or bytes")
   cdef CallCredentials credentials = CallCredentials()
-  credentials.c_credentials = (
-      grpc_service_account_jwt_access_credentials_create(
-          json_key, token_lifetime.c_time, NULL))
+  cdef char *json_key_c_string = json_key
+  with nogil:
+    credentials.c_credentials = (
+        grpc_service_account_jwt_access_credentials_create(
+            json_key_c_string, token_lifetime.c_time, NULL))
   credentials.references.append(json_key)
   return credentials
 
@@ -219,8 +230,10 @@ def call_credentials_google_refresh_token(json_refresh_token):
   else:
     raise TypeError("expected json_refresh_token to be str or bytes")
   cdef CallCredentials credentials = CallCredentials()
-  credentials.c_credentials = grpc_google_refresh_token_credentials_create(
-      json_refresh_token, NULL)
+  cdef char *json_refresh_token_c_string = json_refresh_token
+  with nogil:
+    credentials.c_credentials = grpc_google_refresh_token_credentials_create(
+        json_refresh_token_c_string, NULL)
   credentials.references.append(json_refresh_token)
   return credentials
 
@@ -238,17 +251,21 @@ def call_credentials_google_iam(authorization_token, authority_selector):
   else:
     raise TypeError("expected authority_selector to be str or bytes")
   cdef CallCredentials credentials = CallCredentials()
-  credentials.c_credentials = grpc_google_iam_credentials_create(
-      authorization_token, authority_selector, NULL)
+  cdef char *authorization_token_c_string = authorization_token
+  cdef char *authority_selector_c_string = authority_selector
+  with nogil:
+    credentials.c_credentials = grpc_google_iam_credentials_create(
+        authorization_token_c_string, authority_selector_c_string, NULL)
   credentials.references.append(authorization_token)
   credentials.references.append(authority_selector)
   return credentials
 
 def call_credentials_metadata_plugin(CredentialsMetadataPlugin plugin):
   cdef CallCredentials credentials = CallCredentials()
-  credentials.c_credentials = (
-      grpc_metadata_credentials_create_from_plugin(plugin.make_c_plugin(),
-                                                        NULL))
+  cdef grpc_metadata_credentials_plugin c_plugin = plugin.make_c_plugin()
+  with nogil:
+    credentials.c_credentials = (
+        grpc_metadata_credentials_create_from_plugin(c_plugin, NULL))
   # TODO(atash): the following held reference is *probably* never necessary
   credentials.references.append(plugin)
   return credentials
@@ -274,11 +291,12 @@ def server_credentials_ssl(pem_root_certs, pem_key_cert_pairs,
   credentials.references.append(pem_key_cert_pairs)
   credentials.references.append(pem_root_certs)
   credentials.c_ssl_pem_key_cert_pairs_count = len(pem_key_cert_pairs)
-  credentials.c_ssl_pem_key_cert_pairs = (
-      <grpc_ssl_pem_key_cert_pair *>gpr_malloc(
-          sizeof(grpc_ssl_pem_key_cert_pair) *
-              credentials.c_ssl_pem_key_cert_pairs_count
-      ))
+  with nogil:
+    credentials.c_ssl_pem_key_cert_pairs = (
+        <grpc_ssl_pem_key_cert_pair *>gpr_malloc(
+            sizeof(grpc_ssl_pem_key_cert_pair) *
+                credentials.c_ssl_pem_key_cert_pairs_count
+        ))
   for i in range(credentials.c_ssl_pem_key_cert_pairs_count):
     credentials.c_ssl_pem_key_cert_pairs[i] = (
         (<SslPemKeyCertPair>pem_key_cert_pairs[i]).c_pair)

src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/grpc.pxi

@@ -38,27 +38,27 @@ cdef extern from "grpc/_cython/loader.h":
 
   int pygrpc_load_core(char*)
 
-  void *gpr_malloc(size_t size)
-  void gpr_free(void *ptr)
-  void *gpr_realloc(void *p, size_t size)
+  void *gpr_malloc(size_t size) nogil
+  void gpr_free(void *ptr) nogil
+  void *gpr_realloc(void *p, size_t size) nogil
 
   ctypedef struct gpr_slice:
     # don't worry about writing out the members of gpr_slice; we never access
     # them directly.
     pass
 
-  gpr_slice gpr_slice_ref(gpr_slice s)
-  void gpr_slice_unref(gpr_slice s)
-  gpr_slice gpr_slice_new(void *p, size_t len, void (*destroy)(void *))
+  gpr_slice gpr_slice_ref(gpr_slice s) nogil
+  void gpr_slice_unref(gpr_slice s) nogil
+  gpr_slice gpr_slice_new(void *p, size_t len, void (*destroy)(void *)) nogil
   gpr_slice gpr_slice_new_with_len(
-      void *p, size_t len, void (*destroy)(void *, size_t))
-  gpr_slice gpr_slice_malloc(size_t length)
-  gpr_slice gpr_slice_from_copied_string(const char *source)
-  gpr_slice gpr_slice_from_copied_buffer(const char *source, size_t len)
+      void *p, size_t len, void (*destroy)(void *, size_t)) nogil
+  gpr_slice gpr_slice_malloc(size_t length) nogil
+  gpr_slice gpr_slice_from_copied_string(const char *source) nogil
+  gpr_slice gpr_slice_from_copied_buffer(const char *source, size_t len) nogil
 
   # Declare functions for function-like macros (because Cython)...
-  void *gpr_slice_start_ptr "GPR_SLICE_START_PTR" (gpr_slice s)
-  size_t gpr_slice_length "GPR_SLICE_LENGTH" (gpr_slice s)
+  void *gpr_slice_start_ptr "GPR_SLICE_START_PTR" (gpr_slice s) nogil
+  size_t gpr_slice_length "GPR_SLICE_LENGTH" (gpr_slice s) nogil
 
   ctypedef enum gpr_clock_type:
     GPR_CLOCK_MONOTONIC
@@ -71,14 +71,14 @@ cdef extern from "grpc/_cython/loader.h":
     int32_t nanoseconds "tv_nsec"
     gpr_clock_type clock_type
 
-  gpr_timespec gpr_time_0(gpr_clock_type type)
-  gpr_timespec gpr_inf_future(gpr_clock_type type)
-  gpr_timespec gpr_inf_past(gpr_clock_type type)
+  gpr_timespec gpr_time_0(gpr_clock_type type) nogil
+  gpr_timespec gpr_inf_future(gpr_clock_type type) nogil
+  gpr_timespec gpr_inf_past(gpr_clock_type type) nogil
 
-  gpr_timespec gpr_now(gpr_clock_type clock)
+  gpr_timespec gpr_now(gpr_clock_type clock) nogil
 
   gpr_timespec gpr_convert_clock_type(gpr_timespec t,
-                                      gpr_clock_type target_clock)
+                                      gpr_clock_type target_clock) nogil
 
   ctypedef enum grpc_status_code:
     GRPC_STATUS_OK
@@ -114,15 +114,15 @@ cdef extern from "grpc/_cython/loader.h":
     pass
 
   grpc_byte_buffer *grpc_raw_byte_buffer_create(gpr_slice *slices,
-                                                size_t nslices)
-  size_t grpc_byte_buffer_length(grpc_byte_buffer *bb)
-  void grpc_byte_buffer_destroy(grpc_byte_buffer *byte_buffer)
+                                                size_t nslices) nogil
+  size_t grpc_byte_buffer_length(grpc_byte_buffer *bb) nogil
+  void grpc_byte_buffer_destroy(grpc_byte_buffer *byte_buffer) nogil
 
   void grpc_byte_buffer_reader_init(grpc_byte_buffer_reader *reader,
-                                    grpc_byte_buffer *buffer)
+                                    grpc_byte_buffer *buffer) nogil
   int grpc_byte_buffer_reader_next(grpc_byte_buffer_reader *reader,
-                                   gpr_slice *slice)
-  void grpc_byte_buffer_reader_destroy(grpc_byte_buffer_reader *reader)
+                                   gpr_slice *slice) nogil
+  void grpc_byte_buffer_reader_destroy(grpc_byte_buffer_reader *reader) nogil
 
   const char *GRPC_ARG_PRIMARY_USER_AGENT_STRING
   const char *GRPC_ARG_ENABLE_CENSUS
@@ -221,8 +221,8 @@ cdef extern from "grpc/_cython/loader.h":
     size_t capacity
     grpc_metadata *metadata
 
-  void grpc_metadata_array_init(grpc_metadata_array *array)
-  void grpc_metadata_array_destroy(grpc_metadata_array *array)
+  void grpc_metadata_array_init(grpc_metadata_array *array) nogil
+  void grpc_metadata_array_destroy(grpc_metadata_array *array) nogil
 
   ctypedef struct grpc_call_details:
     char *method
@@ -231,8 +231,8 @@ cdef extern from "grpc/_cython/loader.h":
     size_t host_capacity
     gpr_timespec deadline
 
-  void grpc_call_details_init(grpc_call_details *details)
-  void grpc_call_details_destroy(grpc_call_details *details)
+  void grpc_call_details_init(grpc_call_details *details) nogil
+  void grpc_call_details_destroy(grpc_call_details *details) nogil
 
   ctypedef enum grpc_op_type:
     GRPC_OP_SEND_INITIAL_METADATA
@@ -277,61 +277,62 @@ cdef extern from "grpc/_cython/loader.h":
     uint32_t flags
     grpc_op_data data
 
-  void grpc_init()
-  void grpc_shutdown()
+  void grpc_init() nogil
+  void grpc_shutdown() nogil
 
-  grpc_completion_queue *grpc_completion_queue_create(void *reserved)
+  grpc_completion_queue *grpc_completion_queue_create(void *reserved) nogil
   grpc_event grpc_completion_queue_next(grpc_completion_queue *cq,
                                         gpr_timespec deadline,
                                         void *reserved) nogil
   grpc_event grpc_completion_queue_pluck(grpc_completion_queue *cq, void *tag,
                                          gpr_timespec deadline,
                                          void *reserved) nogil
-  void grpc_completion_queue_shutdown(grpc_completion_queue *cq)
-  void grpc_completion_queue_destroy(grpc_completion_queue *cq)
+  void grpc_completion_queue_shutdown(grpc_completion_queue *cq) nogil
+  void grpc_completion_queue_destroy(grpc_completion_queue *cq) nogil
 
-  grpc_call_error grpc_call_start_batch(grpc_call *call, const grpc_op *ops,
-                                        size_t nops, void *tag, void *reserved)
-  grpc_call_error grpc_call_cancel(grpc_call *call, void *reserved)
+  grpc_call_error grpc_call_start_batch(
+      grpc_call *call, const grpc_op *ops, size_t nops, void *tag,
+      void *reserved) nogil
+  grpc_call_error grpc_call_cancel(grpc_call *call, void *reserved) nogil
   grpc_call_error grpc_call_cancel_with_status(grpc_call *call,
                                                grpc_status_code status,
                                                const char *description,
-                                               void *reserved)
-  char *grpc_call_get_peer(grpc_call *call)
-  void grpc_call_destroy(grpc_call *call)
+                                               void *reserved) nogil
+  char *grpc_call_get_peer(grpc_call *call) nogil
+  void grpc_call_destroy(grpc_call *call) nogil
 
   grpc_channel *grpc_insecure_channel_create(const char *target,
                                              const grpc_channel_args *args,
-                                             void *reserved)
-  grpc_call *grpc_channel_create_call(grpc_channel *channel,
-                                      grpc_call *parent_call,
-                                      uint32_t propagation_mask,
-                                      grpc_completion_queue *completion_queue,
-                                      const char *method, const char *host,
-                                      gpr_timespec deadline, void *reserved)
+                                             void *reserved) nogil
+  grpc_call *grpc_channel_create_call(
+      grpc_channel *channel, grpc_call *parent_call, uint32_t propagation_mask,
+      grpc_completion_queue *completion_queue, const char *method,
+      const char *host, gpr_timespec deadline, void *reserved) nogil
   grpc_connectivity_state grpc_channel_check_connectivity_state(
-      grpc_channel *channel, int try_to_connect)
+      grpc_channel *channel, int try_to_connect) nogil
   void grpc_channel_watch_connectivity_state(
       grpc_channel *channel, grpc_connectivity_state last_observed_state,
-      gpr_timespec deadline, grpc_completion_queue *cq, void *tag)
-  char *grpc_channel_get_target(grpc_channel *channel)
-  void grpc_channel_destroy(grpc_channel *channel)
+      gpr_timespec deadline, grpc_completion_queue *cq, void *tag) nogil
+  char *grpc_channel_get_target(grpc_channel *channel) nogil
+  void grpc_channel_destroy(grpc_channel *channel) nogil
 
-  grpc_server *grpc_server_create(const grpc_channel_args *args, void *reserved)
+  grpc_server *grpc_server_create(
+      const grpc_channel_args *args, void *reserved) nogil
   grpc_call_error grpc_server_request_call(
       grpc_server *server, grpc_call **call, grpc_call_details *details,
       grpc_metadata_array *request_metadata, grpc_completion_queue
       *cq_bound_to_call, grpc_completion_queue *cq_for_notification, void
-      *tag_new)
+      *tag_new) nogil
   void grpc_server_register_completion_queue(grpc_server *server,
                                              grpc_completion_queue *cq,
-                                             void *reserved)
-  int grpc_server_add_insecure_http2_port(grpc_server *server, const char *addr)
-  void grpc_server_start(grpc_server *server)
+                                             void *reserved) nogil
+  int grpc_server_add_insecure_http2_port(
+      grpc_server *server, const char *addr) nogil
+  void grpc_server_start(grpc_server *server) nogil
   void grpc_server_shutdown_and_notify(
-      grpc_server *server, grpc_completion_queue *cq, void *tag)
-  void grpc_server_cancel_all_calls(grpc_server *server)
-  void grpc_server_destroy(grpc_server *server)
+      grpc_server *server, grpc_completion_queue *cq, void *tag) nogil
+  void grpc_server_cancel_all_calls(grpc_server *server) nogil
+  void grpc_server_destroy(grpc_server *server) nogil
 
   ctypedef struct grpc_ssl_pem_key_cert_pair:
     const char *private_key
@@ -347,35 +348,36 @@ cdef extern from "grpc/_cython/loader.h":
 
   ctypedef void (*grpc_ssl_roots_override_callback)(char **pem_root_certs)
 
-  void grpc_set_ssl_roots_override_callback(grpc_ssl_roots_override_callback cb)
+  void grpc_set_ssl_roots_override_callback(
+      grpc_ssl_roots_override_callback cb) nogil
 
-  grpc_channel_credentials *grpc_google_default_credentials_create()
+  grpc_channel_credentials *grpc_google_default_credentials_create() nogil
   grpc_channel_credentials *grpc_ssl_credentials_create(
       const char *pem_root_certs, grpc_ssl_pem_key_cert_pair *pem_key_cert_pair,
-      void *reserved)
+      void *reserved) nogil
   grpc_channel_credentials *grpc_composite_channel_credentials_create(
       grpc_channel_credentials *creds1, grpc_call_credentials *creds2,
-      void *reserved)
-  void grpc_channel_credentials_release(grpc_channel_credentials *creds)
+      void *reserved) nogil
+  void grpc_channel_credentials_release(grpc_channel_credentials *creds) nogil
 
   grpc_call_credentials *grpc_composite_call_credentials_create(
       grpc_call_credentials *creds1, grpc_call_credentials *creds2,
-      void *reserved)
+      void *reserved) nogil
   grpc_call_credentials *grpc_google_compute_engine_credentials_create(
-      void *reserved)
+      void *reserved) nogil
   grpc_call_credentials *grpc_service_account_jwt_access_credentials_create(
       const char *json_key,
-      gpr_timespec token_lifetime, void *reserved)
+      gpr_timespec token_lifetime, void *reserved) nogil
   grpc_call_credentials *grpc_google_refresh_token_credentials_create(
-      const char *json_refresh_token, void *reserved)
+      const char *json_refresh_token, void *reserved) nogil
   grpc_call_credentials *grpc_google_iam_credentials_create(
       const char *authorization_token, const char *authority_selector,
-      void *reserved)
-  void grpc_call_credentials_release(grpc_call_credentials *creds)
+      void *reserved) nogil
+  void grpc_call_credentials_release(grpc_call_credentials *creds) nogil
 
   grpc_channel *grpc_secure_channel_create(
       grpc_channel_credentials *creds, const char *target,
-      const grpc_channel_args *args, void *reserved)
+      const grpc_channel_args *args, void *reserved) nogil
 
   ctypedef struct grpc_server_credentials:
     # We don't care about the internals (and in fact don't know them)
@@ -385,13 +387,13 @@ cdef extern from "grpc/_cython/loader.h":
       const char *pem_root_certs,
       grpc_ssl_pem_key_cert_pair *pem_key_cert_pairs,
       size_t num_key_cert_pairs, int force_client_auth, void *reserved)
-  void grpc_server_credentials_release(grpc_server_credentials *creds)
+  void grpc_server_credentials_release(grpc_server_credentials *creds) nogil
 
   int grpc_server_add_secure_http2_port(grpc_server *server, const char *addr,
-                                        grpc_server_credentials *creds)
+                                        grpc_server_credentials *creds) nogil
 
   grpc_call_error grpc_call_set_credentials(grpc_call *call,
-                                            grpc_call_credentials *creds)
+                                            grpc_call_credentials *creds) nogil
 
   ctypedef struct grpc_auth_context:
     # We don't care about the internals (and in fact don't know them)
@@ -415,4 +417,4 @@ cdef extern from "grpc/_cython/loader.h":
     const char *type
 
   grpc_call_credentials *grpc_metadata_credentials_create_from_plugin(
-      grpc_metadata_credentials_plugin plugin, void *reserved)
+      grpc_metadata_credentials_plugin plugin, void *reserved) nogil

src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/records.pyx.pxi

@@ -107,15 +107,18 @@ cdef class Timespec:
 
   def __cinit__(self, time):
     if time is None:
-      self.c_time = gpr_now(GPR_CLOCK_REALTIME)
+      with nogil:
+        self.c_time = gpr_now(GPR_CLOCK_REALTIME)
       return
     if isinstance(time, int):
       time = float(time)
     if isinstance(time, float):
       if time == float("+inf"):
-        self.c_time = gpr_inf_future(GPR_CLOCK_REALTIME)
+        with nogil:
+          self.c_time = gpr_inf_future(GPR_CLOCK_REALTIME)
       elif time == float("-inf"):
-        self.c_time = gpr_inf_past(GPR_CLOCK_REALTIME)
+        with nogil:
+          self.c_time = gpr_inf_past(GPR_CLOCK_REALTIME)
       else:
         self.c_time.seconds = time
         self.c_time.nanoseconds = (time - float(self.c_time.seconds)) * 1e9
@@ -131,8 +134,10 @@ cdef class Timespec:
     # TODO(atash) ensure that everywhere a Timespec is created that it's
     # converted to GPR_CLOCK_REALTIME then and not every time someone wants to
     # read values off in Python.
-    cdef gpr_timespec real_time = (
-        gpr_convert_clock_type(self.c_time, GPR_CLOCK_REALTIME))
+    cdef gpr_timespec real_time
+    with nogil:
+      real_time = (
+          gpr_convert_clock_type(self.c_time, GPR_CLOCK_REALTIME))
     return real_time.seconds
 
   @property
@@ -158,10 +163,12 @@ cdef class Timespec:
 cdef class CallDetails:
 
   def __cinit__(self):
-    grpc_call_details_init(&self.c_details)
+    with nogil:
+      grpc_call_details_init(&self.c_details)
 
   def __dealloc__(self):
-    grpc_call_details_destroy(&self.c_details)
+    with nogil:
+      grpc_call_details_destroy(&self.c_details)
 
   @property
   def method(self):
@@ -229,10 +236,15 @@ cdef class ByteBuffer:
                       "ByteBuffer, not {}".format(type(data)))
 
     cdef char *c_data = data
-    data_slice = gpr_slice_from_copied_buffer(c_data, len(data))
-    self.c_byte_buffer = grpc_raw_byte_buffer_create(
-        &data_slice, 1)
-    gpr_slice_unref(data_slice)
+    cdef gpr_slice data_slice
+    cdef size_t data_length = len(data)
+    with nogil:
+      data_slice = gpr_slice_from_copied_buffer(c_data, data_length)
+    with nogil:
+      self.c_byte_buffer = grpc_raw_byte_buffer_create(
+          &data_slice, 1)
+    with nogil:
+      gpr_slice_unref(data_slice)
 
   def bytes(self):
     cdef grpc_byte_buffer_reader reader
@@ -240,20 +252,27 @@ cdef class ByteBuffer:
     cdef size_t data_slice_length
     cdef void *data_slice_pointer
     if self.c_byte_buffer != NULL:
-      grpc_byte_buffer_reader_init(&reader, self.c_byte_buffer)
+      with nogil:
+        grpc_byte_buffer_reader_init(&reader, self.c_byte_buffer)
       result = b""
-      while grpc_byte_buffer_reader_next(&reader, &data_slice):
-        data_slice_pointer = gpr_slice_start_ptr(data_slice)
-        data_slice_length = gpr_slice_length(data_slice)
-        result += (<char *>data_slice_pointer)[:data_slice_length]
-      grpc_byte_buffer_reader_destroy(&reader)
+      with nogil:
+        while grpc_byte_buffer_reader_next(&reader, &data_slice):
+          data_slice_pointer = gpr_slice_start_ptr(data_slice)
+          data_slice_length = gpr_slice_length(data_slice)
+          with gil:
+            result += (<char *>data_slice_pointer)[:data_slice_length]
+      with nogil:
+        grpc_byte_buffer_reader_destroy(&reader)
       return result
     else:
       return None
 
   def __len__(self):
+    cdef size_t result
     if self.c_byte_buffer != NULL:
-      return grpc_byte_buffer_length(self.c_byte_buffer)
+      with nogil:
+        result = grpc_byte_buffer_length(self.c_byte_buffer)
+      return result
     else:
       return 0
 
@@ -262,7 +281,8 @@ cdef class ByteBuffer:
 
   def __dealloc__(self):
     if self.c_byte_buffer != NULL:
-      grpc_byte_buffer_destroy(self.c_byte_buffer)
+      with nogil:
+        grpc_byte_buffer_destroy(self.c_byte_buffer)
 
 
 cdef class SslPemKeyCertPair:
@@ -319,14 +339,15 @@ cdef class ChannelArgs:
       if not isinstance(arg, ChannelArg):
         raise TypeError("expected list of ChannelArg")
     self.c_args.arguments_length = len(self.args)
-    self.c_args.arguments = <grpc_arg *>gpr_malloc(
-        self.c_args.arguments_length*sizeof(grpc_arg)
-    )
+    with nogil:
+      self.c_args.arguments = <grpc_arg *>gpr_malloc(
+          self.c_args.arguments_length*sizeof(grpc_arg))
     for i in range(self.c_args.arguments_length):
       self.c_args.arguments[i] = (<ChannelArg>self.args[i]).c_arg
 
   def __dealloc__(self):
-    gpr_free(self.c_args.arguments)
+    with nogil:
+      gpr_free(self.c_args.arguments)
 
   def __len__(self):
     # self.args is never stale; it's only updated from this file
@@ -407,21 +428,24 @@ cdef class Metadata:
     for metadatum in metadata:
       if not isinstance(metadatum, Metadatum):
         raise TypeError("expected list of Metadatum")
-    grpc_metadata_array_init(&self.c_metadata_array)
+    with nogil:
+      grpc_metadata_array_init(&self.c_metadata_array)
     self.c_metadata_array.count = len(self.metadata)
     self.c_metadata_array.capacity = len(self.metadata)
-    self.c_metadata_array.metadata = <grpc_metadata *>gpr_malloc(
-        self.c_metadata_array.count*sizeof(grpc_metadata)
-    )
+    with nogil:
+      self.c_metadata_array.metadata = <grpc_metadata *>gpr_malloc(
+          self.c_metadata_array.count*sizeof(grpc_metadata)
+      )
     for i in range(self.c_metadata_array.count):
       self.c_metadata_array.metadata[i] = (
           (<Metadatum>self.metadata[i]).c_metadata)
 
   def __dealloc__(self):
     # this frees the allocated memory for the grpc_metadata_array (although
-    # it'd be nice if that were documented somewhere...) TODO(atash): document
-    # this in the C core
-    grpc_metadata_array_destroy(&self.c_metadata_array)
+    # it'd be nice if that were documented somewhere...)
+    # TODO(atash): document this in the C core
+    with nogil:
+      grpc_metadata_array_destroy(&self.c_metadata_array)
 
   def __len__(self):
     return self.c_metadata_array.count
@@ -526,7 +550,8 @@ cdef class Operation:
     # Python. The remaining one(s) are primitive fields filled in by GRPC core.
     # This means that we need to clean up after receive_status_on_client.
     if self.c_op.type == GRPC_OP_RECV_STATUS_ON_CLIENT:
-      gpr_free(self._received_status_details)
+      with nogil:
+        gpr_free(self._received_status_details)
 
 def operation_send_initial_metadata(Metadata metadata):
   cdef Operation op = Operation()
@@ -648,8 +673,8 @@ cdef class Operations:
       if not isinstance(operation, Operation):
         raise TypeError("expected operations to be iterable of Operation")
     self.c_nops = len(self.operations)
-    self.c_ops = <grpc_op *>gpr_malloc(
-        sizeof(grpc_op)*self.c_nops)
+    with nogil:
+      self.c_ops = <grpc_op *>gpr_malloc(sizeof(grpc_op)*self.c_nops)
     for i in range(self.c_nops):
       self.c_ops[i] = (<Operation>(self.operations[i])).c_op
 
@@ -661,7 +686,8 @@ cdef class Operations:
     return self.operations[i]
 
   def __dealloc__(self):
-    gpr_free(self.c_ops)
+    with nogil:
+      gpr_free(self.c_ops)
 
   def __iter__(self):
     return _OperationsIterator(self)

src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/server.pyx.pxi

@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ cdef class Server:
     if arguments is not None:
       c_arguments = &arguments.c_args
       self.references.append(arguments)
-    self.c_server = grpc_server_create(c_arguments, NULL)
+    with nogil:
+      self.c_server = grpc_server_create(c_arguments, NULL)
     self.is_started = False
     self.is_shutting_down = False
     self.is_shutdown = False
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ cdef class Server:
       raise ValueError("server must be started and not shutting down")
     if server_queue not in self.registered_completion_queues:
       raise ValueError("server_queue must be a registered completion queue")
+    cdef grpc_call_error result
     cdef OperationTag operation_tag = OperationTag(tag)
     operation_tag.operation_call = Call()
     operation_tag.request_call_details = CallDetails()
@@ -61,19 +63,22 @@ cdef class Server:
     operation_tag.is_new_request = True
     operation_tag.batch_operations = Operations([])
     cpython.Py_INCREF(operation_tag)
-    return grpc_server_request_call(
-        self.c_server, &operation_tag.operation_call.c_call,
-        &operation_tag.request_call_details.c_details,
-        &operation_tag.request_metadata.c_metadata_array,
-        call_queue.c_completion_queue, server_queue.c_completion_queue,
-        <cpython.PyObject *>operation_tag)
+    with nogil:
+      result = grpc_server_request_call(
+          self.c_server, &operation_tag.operation_call.c_call,
+          &operation_tag.request_call_details.c_details,
+          &operation_tag.request_metadata.c_metadata_array,
+          call_queue.c_completion_queue, server_queue.c_completion_queue,
+          <cpython.PyObject *>operation_tag)
+    return result
 
   def register_completion_queue(
       self, CompletionQueue queue not None):
     if self.is_started:
       raise ValueError("cannot register completion queues after start")
-    grpc_server_register_completion_queue(
-        self.c_server, queue.c_completion_queue, NULL)
+    with nogil:
+      grpc_server_register_completion_queue(
+          self.c_server, queue.c_completion_queue, NULL)
     self.registered_completion_queues.append(queue)
 
   def start(self):
@@ -82,7 +87,8 @@ cdef class Server:
     self.backup_shutdown_queue = CompletionQueue()
     self.register_completion_queue(self.backup_shutdown_queue)
     self.is_started = True
-    grpc_server_start(self.c_server)
+    with nogil:
+      grpc_server_start(self.c_server)
     # Ensure the core has gotten a chance to do the start-up work
     self.backup_shutdown_queue.pluck(None, Timespec(None))
 
@@ -95,21 +101,28 @@ cdef class Server:
     else:
       raise TypeError("expected address to be a str or bytes")
     self.references.append(address)
+    cdef int result
+    cdef char *address_c_string = address
     if server_credentials is not None:
       self.references.append(server_credentials)
-      return grpc_server_add_secure_http2_port(
-          self.c_server, address, server_credentials.c_credentials)
+      with nogil:
+        result = grpc_server_add_secure_http2_port(
+            self.c_server, address_c_string, server_credentials.c_credentials)
     else:
-      return grpc_server_add_insecure_http2_port(self.c_server, address)
+      with nogil:
+        result = grpc_server_add_insecure_http2_port(self.c_server,
+                                                     address_c_string)
+    return result
 
   cdef _c_shutdown(self, CompletionQueue queue, tag):
     self.is_shutting_down = True
     operation_tag = OperationTag(tag)
     operation_tag.shutting_down_server = self
     cpython.Py_INCREF(operation_tag)
-    grpc_server_shutdown_and_notify(
-        self.c_server, queue.c_completion_queue,
-        <cpython.PyObject *>operation_tag)
+    with nogil:
+      grpc_server_shutdown_and_notify(
+          self.c_server, queue.c_completion_queue,
+          <cpython.PyObject *>operation_tag)
 
   def shutdown(self, CompletionQueue queue not None, tag):
     cdef OperationTag operation_tag
@@ -134,7 +147,8 @@ cdef class Server:
     elif self.is_shutdown:
       return
     else:
-      grpc_server_cancel_all_calls(self.c_server)
+      with nogil:
+        grpc_server_cancel_all_calls(self.c_server)
 
   def __dealloc__(self):
     if self.c_server != NULL:
@@ -153,5 +167,6 @@ cdef class Server:
         # much but repeatedly release the GIL and wait
         while not self.is_shutdown:
           time.sleep(0)
-      grpc_server_destroy(self.c_server)
+      with nogil:
+        grpc_server_destroy(self.c_server)
 

src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/cygrpc.pyx

@@ -57,14 +57,17 @@ cdef class _ModuleState:
           'grpc._cython', '_windows/grpc_c.64.python')
       if not pygrpc_load_core(filename):
         raise ImportError('failed to load core gRPC library')
-    grpc_init()
+    with nogil:
+      grpc_init()
     self.is_loaded = True
-    grpc_set_ssl_roots_override_callback(
-        <grpc_ssl_roots_override_callback>ssl_roots_override_callback)
+    with nogil:
+      grpc_set_ssl_roots_override_callback(
+          <grpc_ssl_roots_override_callback>ssl_roots_override_callback)
 
   def __dealloc__(self):
     if self.is_loaded:
-      grpc_shutdown()
+      with nogil:
+        grpc_shutdown()
 
 _module_state = _ModuleState()