martin v löwis qpnyslvloewisde theres big difference enough memory directory consumes lots memory company directories several hundred thousand entries using iterator would appreciated although time upgrade python 3x probably fixed architecture even talking tens megabytes worst killer painful kind operation want perform directory would expect usually either refer single file either going create want process case know name advance openstatmkdirunlinkrmdir file without caring many files exist directory b need process files countsumbackupremove case need entire list process reading onebyone likely going slow entire operation instead speeding case actually need read entries incrementally c apis provide chunkwise processing dynamic memory management painful write c caller asked pass limitedsize output buffer gets refilled subsequent read calls originally apis would return single entry time file system superslow today sysv allsinging alldancing getdents provides multiple entries time performance reasons regards martin _______________________________________________ python3000 mailing list smsbmo9552pythonorg httpmailpythonorgmailmanlistinfopython3000 unsubscribe httpmailpythonorgmailmanoptionspython3000python300040tangomucom fri 08 aug 2008 072920 0200 python3000 removal ospathwalk