C/C++ vs. Python Threads: Key Difference in Process Lifetime Explained

A developer with a background in C and C++ has highlighted a crucial behavioral difference in how Python handles threads compared to lower-level languages. In C and C++, a process terminates immediately when main() returns or exit() is called, even if other threads are still running, requiring explicit joins to prevent premature shutdown. Python, by contrast, implicitly waits for all non-daemon threads to finish before the process exits, eliminating the need for manual joins in most cases. Java shares Python's approach, while Go and Rust follow the C/C++ model. The author notes this distinction can catch experienced C/C++ programmers off guard when they first work with Python threading.