Two new public API functions, Py_IncRef and Py_DecRef. Useful for

dynamic embedders of Python.

Doc/api/refcounting.tex

@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ of Python objects.
   applies.
 \end{cfuncdesc}
 
+The following functions are for runtime dynamic embedding of Python:
+\cfunction{Py_IncRef(PyObject *o)}, \cfunction{Py_DecRef(PyObject *o)}.
+They are simply exported function versions of \cfunction{Py_XINCREF()} and 
+\cfunction{Py_XDECREF()}, respectively.
+
 The following functions or macros are only for use within the
 interpreter core: \cfunction{_Py_Dealloc()},
 \cfunction{_Py_ForgetReference()}, \cfunction{_Py_NewReference()}, as

Include/object.h

@@ -624,6 +624,13 @@ PyAPI_FUNC(void) _Py_AddToAllObjects(PyObject *, int force);
 #define Py_XINCREF(op) if ((op) == NULL) ; else Py_INCREF(op)
 #define Py_XDECREF(op) if ((op) == NULL) ; else Py_DECREF(op)
 
+/*
+These are provided as conveniences to Python runtime embedders, so that
+they can have object code that is not dependent on Python compilation flags.
+*/
+PyAPI_FUNC(void) Py_IncRef(PyObject *);
+PyAPI_FUNC(void) Py_DecRef(PyObject *);
+
 /*
 _Py_NoneStruct is an object of undefined type which can be used in contexts
 where NULL (nil) is not suitable (since NULL often means 'error').

Misc/NEWS

@@ -471,6 +471,10 @@ Build
 C API
 -----
 
+- New public functions Py_IncRef() and Py_DecRef(), exposing the
+  functionality of the Py_XINCREF() and Py_XDECREF macros. Useful for
+  runtime dynamic embedding of Python.
+
 - Added a new macro, PySequence_Fast_ITEMS, which retrieves a fast sequence's
   underlying array of PyObject pointers.  Useful for high speed looping.
 

Objects/object.c

@@ -146,6 +146,18 @@ _Py_NegativeRefcount(const char *fname, int lineno, PyObject *op)
 
 #endif /* Py_REF_DEBUG */
 
+void
+Py_IncRef(PyObject *o)
+{
+    Py_XINCREF(o);
+}
+
+void
+Py_DecRef(PyObject *o)
+{
+    Py_XDECREF(o);
+}
+
 PyObject *
 PyObject_Init(PyObject *op, PyTypeObject *tp)
 {