]> arthur.barton.de Git - bup.git/blobdiff - lib/bup/_helpers.c
write_sparsely bitmatch set_linux_file_attr: accommodate python 3
[bup.git] / lib / bup / _helpers.c
index 2a5dc468b7b660a849c6e67df60c8fa91da26b1a..b29c54cb782e16882d5043149c88423b37c980e9 100644 (file)
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <arpa/inet.h>
+#include <stddef.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
-#include <sys/mman.h>
+#include <string.h>
 
+#ifdef HAVE_SYS_MMAN_H
+#include <sys/mman.h>
+#endif
 #ifdef HAVE_SYS_TYPES_H
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #endif
@@ -25,6 +29,9 @@
 #ifdef HAVE_UNISTD_H
 #include <unistd.h>
 #endif
+#ifdef HAVE_SYS_TIME_H
+#include <sys/time.h>
+#endif
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LINUX_FS_H
 #include <linux/fs.h>
 #include <sys/ioctl.h>
 #endif
 
+#ifdef HAVE_TM_TM_GMTOFF
+#include <time.h>
+#endif
+
 #include "bupsplit.h"
 
 #if defined(FS_IOC_GETFLAGS) && defined(FS_IOC_SETFLAGS)
 #define FS_NOCOW_FL 0
 #endif
 
-static int istty2 = 0;
+
+typedef unsigned char byte;
+
+
+typedef struct {
+    int istty2;
+} state_t;
+
+// cstr_argf: for byte vectors without null characters (e.g. paths)
+// rbuf_argf: for read-only byte vectors
+// wbuf_argf: for mutable byte vectors
+
+#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
+static state_t state;
+#  define get_state(x) (&state)
+#  define cstr_argf "s"
+#  define rbuf_argf "s#"
+#  define wbuf_argf "s*"
+#else
+#  define get_state(x) ((state_t *) PyModule_GetState(x))
+#  define cstr_argf "y"
+#  define rbuf_argf "y#"
+#  define wbuf_argf "y*"
+#endif // PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
+
+
+static void *checked_malloc(size_t n, size_t size)
+{
+    size_t total;
+    if (__builtin_mul_overflow(n, size, &total))
+    {
+        PyErr_Format(PyExc_OverflowError,
+                     "request to allocate %lu items of size %lu is too large",
+                     n, size);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    void *result = malloc(total);
+    if (!result)
+        return PyErr_NoMemory();
+    return result;
+}
+
+static void *checked_calloc(size_t n, size_t size)
+{
+    void *result = calloc(n, size);
+    if (!result)
+        PyErr_NoMemory();
+    return result;
+}
 
 
 #ifndef htonll
@@ -70,20 +129,37 @@ static uint64_t htonll(uint64_t value)
 #endif
 
 
+#ifdef __clang__
 #define INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(dest, src)                             \
     ({                                                                  \
         *(dest) = (src);                                                \
         *(dest) == (src) && (*(dest) < 1) == ((src) < 1);               \
     })
+#else
+// Disabling sign-compare here should be fine since we're explicitly
+// checking for a sign mismatch, i.e. if the signs don't match, then
+// it doesn't matter what the value comparison says.
+// FIXME: ... so should we reverse the order?
+#define INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(dest, src)                             \
+    ({                                                                  \
+        _Pragma("GCC diagnostic push");                                 \
+        _Pragma("GCC diagnostic ignored \"-Wsign-compare\"");           \
+        *(dest) = (src);                                                \
+        *(dest) == (src) && (*(dest) < 1) == ((src) < 1);               \
+        _Pragma("GCC diagnostic pop");                                  \
+    })
+#endif
 
 
-// At the moment any code that calls INTGER_TO_PY() will have to
+// At the moment any code that calls INTEGER_TO_PY() will have to
 // disable -Wtautological-compare for clang.  See below.
 
 #define INTEGER_TO_PY(x) \
     (((x) >= 0) ? PyLong_FromUnsignedLongLong(x) : PyLong_FromLongLong(x))
 
 
+
+#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
 static int bup_ulong_from_pyint(unsigned long *x, PyObject *py,
                                 const char *name)
 {
@@ -104,12 +180,15 @@ static int bup_ulong_from_pyint(unsigned long *x, PyObject *py,
     *x = tmp;
     return 1;
 }
+#endif
 
 
 static int bup_ulong_from_py(unsigned long *x, PyObject *py, const char *name)
 {
+#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
     if (PyInt_Check(py))
         return bup_ulong_from_pyint(x, py, name);
+#endif
 
     if (!PyLong_Check(py))
     {
@@ -148,6 +227,7 @@ static int bup_uint_from_py(unsigned int *x, PyObject *py, const char *name)
 static int bup_ullong_from_py(unsigned PY_LONG_LONG *x, PyObject *py,
                               const char *name)
 {
+#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
     if (PyInt_Check(py))
     {
         unsigned long tmp;
@@ -158,6 +238,7 @@ static int bup_ullong_from_py(unsigned PY_LONG_LONG *x, PyObject *py,
         }
         return 0;
     }
+#endif
 
     if (!PyLong_Check(py))
     {
@@ -178,6 +259,27 @@ static int bup_ullong_from_py(unsigned PY_LONG_LONG *x, PyObject *py,
 }
 
 
+static PyObject *bup_bytescmp(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
+{
+    PyObject *py_s1, *py_s2;  // This is really a PyBytes/PyString
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "SS", &py_s1, &py_s2))
+       return NULL;
+    char *s1, *s2;
+    Py_ssize_t s1_len, s2_len;
+    if (PyBytes_AsStringAndSize(py_s1, &s1, &s1_len) == -1)
+        return NULL;
+    if (PyBytes_AsStringAndSize(py_s2, &s2, &s2_len) == -1)
+        return NULL;
+    const Py_ssize_t n = (s1_len < s2_len) ? s1_len : s2_len;
+    const int cmp = memcmp(s1, s2, n);
+    if (cmp != 0)
+        return PyLong_FromLong(cmp);
+    if (s1_len == s2_len)
+        return PyLong_FromLong(0);;
+    return PyLong_FromLong((s1_len < s2_len) ? -1 : 1);
+}
+
+
 // Probably we should use autoconf or something and set HAVE_PY_GETARGCARGV...
 #if __WIN32__ || __CYGWIN__
 
@@ -229,16 +331,6 @@ static void unpythonize_argv(void)
 #endif // not __WIN32__ or __CYGWIN__
 
 
-static unsigned long long count_leading_zeros(const unsigned char * const buf,
-                                              unsigned long long len)
-{
-    const unsigned char *cur = buf;
-    while(len-- && *cur == 0)
-        cur++;
-    return cur - buf;
-}
-
-
 static int write_all(int fd, const void *buf, const size_t count)
 {
     size_t written = 0;
@@ -265,19 +357,156 @@ static int uadd(unsigned long long *dest,
 }
 
 
+static PyObject *append_sparse_region(const int fd, unsigned long long n)
+{
+    while (n)
+    {
+        off_t new_off;
+        if (!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&new_off, n))
+            new_off = INT_MAX;
+        const off_t off = lseek(fd, new_off, SEEK_CUR);
+        if (off == (off_t) -1)
+            return PyErr_SetFromErrno(PyExc_IOError);
+        n -= new_off;
+    }
+    return NULL;
+}
+
+
+static PyObject *record_sparse_zeros(unsigned long long *new_pending,
+                                     const int fd,
+                                     unsigned long long prev_pending,
+                                     const unsigned long long count)
+{
+    // Add count additional sparse zeros to prev_pending and store the
+    // result in new_pending, or if the total won't fit in
+    // new_pending, write some of the zeros to fd sparsely, and store
+    // the remaining sum in new_pending.
+    if (!uadd(new_pending, prev_pending, count))
+    {
+        PyObject *err = append_sparse_region(fd, prev_pending);
+        if (err != NULL)
+            return err;
+        *new_pending = count;
+    }
+    return NULL;
+}
+
+
+static byte* find_not_zero(const byte * const start, const byte * const end)
+{
+    // Return a pointer to first non-zero byte between start and end,
+    // or end if there isn't one.
+    assert(start <= end);
+    const unsigned char *cur = start;
+    while (cur < end && *cur == 0)
+        cur++;
+    return (byte *) cur;
+}
+
+
+static byte* find_trailing_zeros(const byte * const start,
+                                 const byte * const end)
+{
+    // Return a pointer to the start of any trailing run of zeros, or
+    // end if there isn't one.
+    assert(start <= end);
+    if (start == end)
+        return (byte *) end;
+    const byte * cur = end;
+    while (cur > start && *--cur == 0) {}
+    if (*cur == 0)
+        return (byte *) cur;
+    else
+        return (byte *) (cur + 1);
+}
+
+
+static byte *find_non_sparse_end(const byte * const start,
+                                 const byte * const end,
+                                 const ptrdiff_t min_len)
+{
+    // Return the first pointer to a min_len sparse block in [start,
+    // end) if there is one, otherwise a pointer to the start of any
+    // trailing run of zeros.  If there are no trailing zeros, return
+    // end.
+    if (start == end)
+        return (byte *) end;
+    assert(start < end);
+    assert(min_len);
+    // Probe in min_len jumps, searching backward from the jump
+    // destination for a non-zero byte.  If such a byte is found, move
+    // just past it and try again.
+    const byte *candidate = start;
+    // End of any run of zeros, starting at candidate, that we've already seen
+    const byte *end_of_known_zeros = candidate;
+    while (end - candidate >= min_len) // Handle all min_len candidate blocks
+    {
+        const byte * const probe_end = candidate + min_len;
+        const byte * const trailing_zeros =
+            find_trailing_zeros(end_of_known_zeros, probe_end);
+        if (trailing_zeros == probe_end)
+            end_of_known_zeros = candidate = probe_end;
+        else if (trailing_zeros == end_of_known_zeros)
+        {
+            assert(candidate >= start);
+            assert(candidate <= end);
+            assert(*candidate == 0);
+            return (byte *) candidate;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            candidate = trailing_zeros;
+            end_of_known_zeros = probe_end;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (candidate == end)
+        return (byte *) end;
+
+    // No min_len sparse run found, search backward from end
+    const byte * const trailing_zeros = find_trailing_zeros(end_of_known_zeros,
+                                                            end);
+
+    if (trailing_zeros == end_of_known_zeros)
+    {
+        assert(candidate >= start);
+        assert(candidate < end);
+        assert(*candidate == 0);
+        assert(end - candidate < min_len);
+        return (byte *) candidate;
+    }
+
+    if (trailing_zeros == end)
+    {
+        assert(*(end - 1) != 0);
+        return (byte *) end;
+    }
+
+    assert(end - trailing_zeros < min_len);
+    assert(trailing_zeros >= start);
+    assert(trailing_zeros < end);
+    assert(*trailing_zeros == 0);
+    return (byte *) trailing_zeros;
+}
+
+
 static PyObject *bup_write_sparsely(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
     int fd;
     unsigned char *buf = NULL;
     Py_ssize_t sbuf_len;
     PyObject *py_min_sparse_len, *py_prev_sparse_len;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "it#OO",
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "i" rbuf_argf "OO",
                           &fd, &buf, &sbuf_len,
                           &py_min_sparse_len, &py_prev_sparse_len))
        return NULL;
-    unsigned long long min_sparse_len, prev_sparse_len, buf_len;
-    if (!bup_ullong_from_py(&min_sparse_len, py_min_sparse_len, "min_sparse_len"))
+    ptrdiff_t min_sparse_len;
+    unsigned long long prev_sparse_len, buf_len, ul_min_sparse_len;
+    if (!bup_ullong_from_py(&ul_min_sparse_len, py_min_sparse_len, "min_sparse_len"))
         return NULL;
+    if (!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&min_sparse_len, ul_min_sparse_len))
+        return PyErr_Format(PyExc_OverflowError, "min_sparse_len too large");
     if (!bup_ullong_from_py(&prev_sparse_len, py_prev_sparse_len, "prev_sparse_len"))
         return NULL;
     if (sbuf_len < 0)
@@ -285,69 +514,50 @@ static PyObject *bup_write_sparsely(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     if (!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&buf_len, sbuf_len))
         return PyErr_Format(PyExc_OverflowError, "buffer length too large");
 
-    // For now, there are some cases where we just give up if the
-    // values are too large, but we could try to break up the relevant
-    // operations into chunks.
-
-    // Deal with preceding zeros.  Just make them sparse, along with
-    // any leading zeros in buf, even if the region's not >= min,
-    // since the alternative is a potentially extra small write.
-    if (prev_sparse_len)
+    const byte * block = buf; // Start of pending block
+    const byte * const end = buf + buf_len;
+    unsigned long long zeros = prev_sparse_len;
+    while (1)
     {
-        const unsigned long long zeros = count_leading_zeros(buf, buf_len);
-        unsigned long long new_sparse_len = 0;
-        if (!uadd(&new_sparse_len, prev_sparse_len, zeros))
-            return PyErr_Format (PyExc_OverflowError, "sparse region too large");
-        if (zeros == buf_len)
-            return PyLong_FromUnsignedLongLong(new_sparse_len);
-
-        off_t new_off;
-        if (!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&new_off, new_sparse_len))
-            return PyErr_Format(PyExc_OverflowError,
-                                "sparse region too large for seek");
-        const off_t off = lseek(fd, new_off, SEEK_CUR);
-        if (off == -1)
-            return PyErr_SetFromErrno(PyExc_IOError);
-        buf += zeros;
-        buf_len -= zeros;
-    }
+        assert(block <= end);
+        if (block == end)
+            return PyLong_FromUnsignedLongLong(zeros);
 
-    int rc;
-    unsigned long long unexamined = buf_len;
-    unsigned char *block_start = buf, *cur = buf;
-    while(unexamined)
-    {
-        const unsigned long long zeros = count_leading_zeros(cur, unexamined);
-        assert(zeros <= unexamined);
-        unexamined -= zeros;
-        if (unexamined == 0)  // Runs off the end.
+        if (*block != 0)
         {
-            rc = write_all(fd, block_start, cur - block_start);
+            // Look for the end of block, i.e. the next sparse run of
+            // at least min_sparse_len zeros, or the end of the
+            // buffer.
+            const byte * const probe = find_non_sparse_end(block + 1, end,
+                                                           min_sparse_len);
+            // Either at end of block, or end of non-sparse; write pending data
+            PyObject *err = append_sparse_region(fd, zeros);
+            if (err != NULL)
+                return err;
+            int rc = write_all(fd, block, probe - block);
             if (rc)
                 return PyErr_SetFromErrno(PyExc_IOError);
-            return PyLong_FromUnsignedLongLong(zeros);
-        }
-        cur += zeros;
-        if (zeros >= min_sparse_len)
-        {
-            off_t new_off;
-            if (!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&new_off, zeros))
-                return PyErr_Format(PyExc_ValueError,
-                                    "zero count overflows off_t");
-            off_t off = lseek(fd, new_off, SEEK_CUR);
-            if (off == -1)
-                return PyErr_SetFromErrno(PyExc_IOError);
-            block_start = cur;
+
+            if (end - probe < min_sparse_len)
+                zeros = end - probe;
+            else
+                zeros = min_sparse_len;
+            block = probe + zeros;
         }
-        while (unexamined && *cur != 0)
+        else // *block == 0
         {
-            cur++; unexamined--;
+            // Should be in the first loop iteration, a sparse run of
+            // zeros, or nearly at the end of the block (within
+            // min_sparse_len).
+            const byte * const zeros_end = find_not_zero(block, end);
+            PyObject *err = record_sparse_zeros(&zeros, fd,
+                                                zeros, zeros_end - block);
+            if (err != NULL)
+                return err;
+            assert(block <= zeros_end);
+            block = zeros_end;
         }
     }
-    rc = write_all(fd, block_start, cur - block_start);
-    if (rc)
-        return PyErr_SetFromErrno(PyExc_IOError);
-    return PyInt_FromLong(0);
 }
 
 
@@ -370,14 +580,29 @@ static PyObject *blobbits(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 
 static PyObject *splitbuf(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    unsigned char *buf = NULL;
-    Py_ssize_t len = 0;
+    // We stick to buffers in python 2 because they appear to be
+    // substantially smaller than memoryviews, and because
+    // zlib.compress() in python 2 can't accept a memoryview
+    // (cf. hashsplit.py).
     int out = 0, bits = -1;
-
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "t#", &buf, &len))
-       return NULL;
-    assert(len <= INT_MAX);
-    out = bupsplit_find_ofs(buf, len, &bits);
+    if (PY_MAJOR_VERSION > 2)
+    {
+        Py_buffer buf;
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "y*", &buf))
+            return NULL;
+        assert(buf.len <= INT_MAX);
+        out = bupsplit_find_ofs(buf.buf, buf.len, &bits);
+        PyBuffer_Release(&buf);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        unsigned char *buf = NULL;
+        Py_ssize_t len = 0;
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "t#", &buf, &len))
+            return NULL;
+        assert(len <= INT_MAX);
+        out = bupsplit_find_ofs(buf, len, &bits);
+    }
     if (out) assert(bits >= BUP_BLOBBITS);
     return Py_BuildValue("ii", out, bits);
 }
@@ -390,7 +615,7 @@ static PyObject *bitmatch(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     Py_ssize_t byte;
     int bit;
 
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "t#t#", &buf1, &len1, &buf2, &len2))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, rbuf_argf rbuf_argf, &buf1, &len1, &buf2, &len2))
        return NULL;
     
     bit = 0;
@@ -417,7 +642,7 @@ static PyObject *firstword(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     Py_ssize_t len = 0;
     uint32_t v;
 
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "t#", &buf, &len))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, rbuf_argf, &buf, &len))
        return NULL;
     
     if (len < 4)
@@ -486,72 +711,95 @@ BLOOM_GET_BIT(bloom_get_bit5, to_bloom_address_bitmask5, uint32_t)
 
 static PyObject *bloom_add(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    unsigned char *sha = NULL, *bloom = NULL;
-    unsigned char *end;
-    Py_ssize_t len = 0, blen = 0;
+    Py_buffer bloom, sha;
     int nbits = 0, k = 0;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, wbuf_argf wbuf_argf "ii",
+                          &bloom, &sha, &nbits, &k))
+        return NULL;
 
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "w#s#ii", &bloom, &blen, &sha, &len, &nbits, &k))
-       return NULL;
+    PyObject *result = NULL;
 
-    if (blen < 16+(1<<nbits) || len % 20 != 0)
-       return NULL;
+    if (bloom.len < 16+(1<<nbits) || sha.len % 20 != 0)
+        goto clean_and_return;
 
     if (k == 5)
     {
-       if (nbits > 29)
-           return NULL;
-       for (end = sha + len; sha < end; sha += 20/k)
-           bloom_set_bit5(bloom, sha, nbits);
+        if (nbits > 29)
+            goto clean_and_return;
+        unsigned char *cur = sha.buf;
+        unsigned char *end;
+        for (end = cur + sha.len; cur < end; cur += 20/k)
+            bloom_set_bit5(bloom.buf, cur, nbits);
     }
     else if (k == 4)
     {
-       if (nbits > 37)
-           return NULL;
-       for (end = sha + len; sha < end; sha += 20/k)
-           bloom_set_bit4(bloom, sha, nbits);
+        if (nbits > 37)
+            goto clean_and_return;
+        unsigned char *cur = sha.buf;
+        unsigned char *end = cur + sha.len;
+        for (; cur < end; cur += 20/k)
+            bloom_set_bit4(bloom.buf, cur, nbits);
     }
     else
-       return NULL;
+        goto clean_and_return;
 
+    result = Py_BuildValue("n", sha.len / 20);
 
-    return Py_BuildValue("n", len/20);
+ clean_and_return:
+    PyBuffer_Release(&bloom);
+    PyBuffer_Release(&sha);
+    return result;
 }
 
 static PyObject *bloom_contains(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    unsigned char *sha = NULL, *bloom = NULL;
-    Py_ssize_t len = 0, blen = 0;
+    Py_buffer bloom;
+    unsigned char *sha = NULL;
+    Py_ssize_t len = 0;
     int nbits = 0, k = 0;
-    unsigned char *end;
-    int steps;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, wbuf_argf rbuf_argf "ii",
+                          &bloom, &sha, &len, &nbits, &k))
+        return NULL;
 
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "t#s#ii", &bloom, &blen, &sha, &len, &nbits, &k))
-       return NULL;
+    PyObject *result = NULL;
 
     if (len != 20)
-       return NULL;
+        goto clean_and_return;
 
     if (k == 5)
     {
-       if (nbits > 29)
-           return NULL;
-       for (steps = 1, end = sha + 20; sha < end; sha += 20/k, steps++)
-           if (!bloom_get_bit5(bloom, sha, nbits))
-               return Py_BuildValue("Oi", Py_None, steps);
+        if (nbits > 29)
+            goto clean_and_return;
+        int steps;
+        unsigned char *end;
+        for (steps = 1, end = sha + 20; sha < end; sha += 20/k, steps++)
+            if (!bloom_get_bit5(bloom.buf, sha, nbits))
+            {
+                result = Py_BuildValue("Oi", Py_None, steps);
+                goto clean_and_return;
+            }
     }
     else if (k == 4)
     {
-       if (nbits > 37)
-           return NULL;
-       for (steps = 1, end = sha + 20; sha < end; sha += 20/k, steps++)
-           if (!bloom_get_bit4(bloom, sha, nbits))
-               return Py_BuildValue("Oi", Py_None, steps);
+        if (nbits > 37)
+            goto clean_and_return;
+        int steps;
+        unsigned char *end;
+        for (steps = 1, end = sha + 20; sha < end; sha += 20/k, steps++)
+            if (!bloom_get_bit4(bloom.buf, sha, nbits))
+            {
+                result = Py_BuildValue("Oi", Py_None, steps);
+                goto clean_and_return;
+            }
     }
     else
-       return NULL;
+        goto clean_and_return;
+
+    result = Py_BuildValue("ii", 1, k);
 
-    return Py_BuildValue("ii", 1, k);
+ clean_and_return:
+    PyBuffer_Release(&bloom);
+    return result;
 }
 
 
@@ -572,7 +820,7 @@ static PyObject *extract_bits(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     Py_ssize_t len = 0;
     int nbits = 0;
 
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "t#i", &buf, &len, &nbits))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, rbuf_argf "i", &buf, &len, &nbits))
        return NULL;
     
     if (len < 4)
@@ -586,6 +834,11 @@ struct sha {
     unsigned char bytes[20];
 };
 
+static inline int _cmp_sha(const struct sha *sha1, const struct sha *sha2)
+{
+    return memcmp(sha1->bytes, sha2->bytes, sizeof(sha1->bytes));
+}
+
 
 struct idx {
     unsigned char *map;
@@ -596,18 +849,7 @@ struct idx {
     int name_base;
 };
 
-
-static int _cmp_sha(const struct sha *sha1, const struct sha *sha2)
-{
-    int i;
-    for (i = 0; i < sizeof(struct sha); i++)
-       if (sha1->bytes[i] != sha2->bytes[i])
-           return sha1->bytes[i] - sha2->bytes[i];
-    return 0;
-}
-
-
-static void _fix_idx_order(struct idx **idxs, int *last_i)
+static void _fix_idx_order(struct idx **idxs, Py_ssize_t *last_i)
 {
     struct idx *idx;
     int low, mid, high, c = 0;
@@ -657,36 +899,51 @@ static uint32_t _get_idx_i(struct idx *idx)
 
 static PyObject *merge_into(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    PyObject *py_total, *ilist = NULL;
-    unsigned char *fmap = NULL;
     struct sha *sha_ptr, *sha_start = NULL;
     uint32_t *table_ptr, *name_ptr, *name_start;
-    struct idx **idxs = NULL;
-    Py_ssize_t flen = 0;
-    int bits = 0, i;
+    int i;
     unsigned int total;
     uint32_t count, prefix;
-    int num_i;
-    int last_i;
 
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "w#iOO",
-                          &fmap, &flen, &bits, &py_total, &ilist))
+
+    Py_buffer fmap;
+    int bits;;
+    PyObject *py_total, *ilist = NULL;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, wbuf_argf "iOO",
+                          &fmap, &bits, &py_total, &ilist))
        return NULL;
 
+    PyObject *result = NULL;
+    struct idx **idxs = NULL;
+    Py_ssize_t num_i = 0;
+    int *idx_buf_init = NULL;
+    Py_buffer *idx_buf = NULL;
+
     if (!bup_uint_from_py(&total, py_total, "total"))
-        return NULL;
+        goto clean_and_return;
 
     num_i = PyList_Size(ilist);
-    idxs = (struct idx **)PyMem_Malloc(num_i * sizeof(struct idx *));
+
+    if (!(idxs = checked_malloc(num_i, sizeof(struct idx *))))
+        goto clean_and_return;
+    if (!(idx_buf_init = checked_calloc(num_i, sizeof(int))))
+        goto clean_and_return;
+    if (!(idx_buf = checked_malloc(num_i, sizeof(Py_buffer))))
+        goto clean_and_return;
 
     for (i = 0; i < num_i; i++)
     {
        long len, sha_ofs, name_map_ofs;
-       idxs[i] = (struct idx *)PyMem_Malloc(sizeof(struct idx));
+       if (!(idxs[i] = checked_malloc(1, sizeof(struct idx))))
+            goto clean_and_return;
        PyObject *itup = PyList_GetItem(ilist, i);
-       if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(itup, "t#llli", &idxs[i]->map, &idxs[i]->bytes,
-                   &len, &sha_ofs, &name_map_ofs, &idxs[i]->name_base))
+       if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(itup, wbuf_argf "llli",
+                              &(idx_buf[i]), &len, &sha_ofs, &name_map_ofs,
+                              &idxs[i]->name_base))
            return NULL;
+        idx_buf_init[i] = 1;
+        idxs[i]->map = idx_buf[i].buf;
+        idxs[i]->bytes = idx_buf[i].len;
        idxs[i]->cur = (struct sha *)&idxs[i]->map[sha_ofs];
        idxs[i]->end = &idxs[i]->cur[len];
        if (name_map_ofs)
@@ -694,18 +951,18 @@ static PyObject *merge_into(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
        else
            idxs[i]->cur_name = NULL;
     }
-    table_ptr = (uint32_t *)&fmap[MIDX4_HEADERLEN];
+    table_ptr = (uint32_t *) &((unsigned char *) fmap.buf)[MIDX4_HEADERLEN];
     sha_start = sha_ptr = (struct sha *)&table_ptr[1<<bits];
     name_start = name_ptr = (uint32_t *)&sha_ptr[total];
 
-    last_i = num_i-1;
+    Py_ssize_t last_i = num_i - 1;
     count = 0;
     prefix = 0;
     while (last_i >= 0)
     {
        struct idx *idx;
        uint32_t new_prefix;
-       if (count % 102424 == 0 && istty2)
+       if (count % 102424 == 0 && get_state(self)->istty2)
            fprintf(stderr, "midx: writing %.2f%% (%d/%d)\r",
                    count*100.0/total, count, total);
        idx = idxs[last_i];
@@ -720,15 +977,32 @@ static PyObject *merge_into(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
        _fix_idx_order(idxs, &last_i);
        ++count;
     }
-    while (prefix < (1<<bits))
+    while (prefix < ((uint32_t) 1 << bits))
        table_ptr[prefix++] = htonl(count);
     assert(count == total);
-    assert(prefix == (1<<bits));
+    assert(prefix == ((uint32_t) 1 << bits));
     assert(sha_ptr == sha_start+count);
     assert(name_ptr == name_start+count);
 
-    PyMem_Free(idxs);
-    return PyLong_FromUnsignedLong(count);
+    result = PyLong_FromUnsignedLong(count);
+
+ clean_and_return:
+    if (idx_buf_init)
+    {
+        for (i = 0; i < num_i; i++)
+            if (idx_buf_init[i])
+                PyBuffer_Release(&(idx_buf[i]));
+        free(idx_buf_init);
+        free(idx_buf);
+    }
+    if (idxs)
+    {
+        for (i = 0; i < num_i; i++)
+            free(idxs[i]);
+        free(idxs);
+    }
+    PyBuffer_Release(&fmap);
+    return result;
 }
 
 #define FAN_ENTRIES 256
@@ -738,8 +1012,6 @@ static PyObject *write_idx(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     char *filename = NULL;
     PyObject *py_total, *idx = NULL;
     PyObject *part;
-    unsigned char *fmap = NULL;
-    Py_ssize_t flen = 0;
     unsigned int total = 0;
     uint32_t count;
     int i, j, ofs64_count;
@@ -747,21 +1019,27 @@ static PyObject *write_idx(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     uint64_t *ofs64_ptr;
     struct sha *sha_ptr;
 
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "sw#OO",
-                          &filename, &fmap, &flen, &idx, &py_total))
+    Py_buffer fmap;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, cstr_argf wbuf_argf "OO",
+                          &filename, &fmap, &idx, &py_total))
        return NULL;
 
+    PyObject *result = NULL;
+
     if (!bup_uint_from_py(&total, py_total, "total"))
-        return NULL;
+        goto clean_and_return;
 
     if (PyList_Size (idx) != FAN_ENTRIES) // Check for list of the right length.
-        return PyErr_Format (PyExc_TypeError, "idx must contain %d entries",
-                             FAN_ENTRIES);
+    {
+        result = PyErr_Format (PyExc_TypeError, "idx must contain %d entries",
+                               FAN_ENTRIES);
+        goto clean_and_return;
+    }
 
     const char idx_header[] = "\377tOc\0\0\0\002";
-    memcpy (fmap, idx_header, sizeof(idx_header) - 1);
+    memcpy (fmap.buf, idx_header, sizeof(idx_header) - 1);
 
-    fan_ptr = (uint32_t *)&fmap[sizeof(idx_header) - 1];
+    fan_ptr = (uint32_t *)&((unsigned char *)fmap.buf)[sizeof(idx_header) - 1];
     sha_ptr = (struct sha *)&fan_ptr[FAN_ENTRIES];
     crc_ptr = (uint32_t *)&sha_ptr[total];
     ofs_ptr = (uint32_t *)&crc_ptr[total];
@@ -785,18 +1063,18 @@ static PyObject *write_idx(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
            unsigned int crc;
             unsigned PY_LONG_LONG ofs_ull;
            uint64_t ofs;
-           if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(PyList_GET_ITEM(part, j), "t#OO",
+           if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(PyList_GET_ITEM(part, j), rbuf_argf "OO",
                                  &sha, &sha_len, &crc_py, &ofs_py))
-               return NULL;
+                goto clean_and_return;
             if(!bup_uint_from_py(&crc, crc_py, "crc"))
-                return NULL;
+                goto clean_and_return;
             if(!bup_ullong_from_py(&ofs_ull, ofs_py, "ofs"))
-                return NULL;
+                goto clean_and_return;
             assert(crc <= UINT32_MAX);
             assert(ofs_ull <= UINT64_MAX);
            ofs = ofs_ull;
            if (sha_len != sizeof(struct sha))
-               return NULL;
+                goto clean_and_return;
            memcpy(sha_ptr++, sha, sizeof(struct sha));
            *crc_ptr++ = htonl(crc);
            if (ofs > 0x7fffffff)
@@ -808,11 +1086,18 @@ static PyObject *write_idx(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
        }
     }
 
-    int rc = msync(fmap, flen, MS_ASYNC);
+    int rc = msync(fmap.buf, fmap.len, MS_ASYNC);
     if (rc != 0)
-       return PyErr_SetFromErrnoWithFilename(PyExc_IOError, filename);
+    {
+        result = PyErr_SetFromErrnoWithFilename(PyExc_IOError, filename);
+        goto clean_and_return;
+    }
 
-    return PyLong_FromUnsignedLong(count);
+    result = PyLong_FromUnsignedLong(count);
+
+ clean_and_return:
+    PyBuffer_Release(&fmap);
+    return result;
 }
 
 
@@ -922,7 +1207,7 @@ static PyObject *open_noatime(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
     char *filename = NULL;
     int fd;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &filename))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, cstr_argf, &filename))
        return NULL;
     fd = _open_noatime(filename, 0);
     if (fd < 0)
@@ -934,11 +1219,18 @@ static PyObject *open_noatime(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 static PyObject *fadvise_done(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
     int fd = -1;
-    long long ofs = 0;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "iL", &fd, &ofs))
+    long long llofs, lllen = 0;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "iLL", &fd, &llofs, &lllen))
        return NULL;
+    off_t ofs, len;
+    if (!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&ofs, llofs))
+        return PyErr_Format(PyExc_OverflowError,
+                            "fadvise offset overflows off_t");
+    if (!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&len, lllen))
+        return PyErr_Format(PyExc_OverflowError,
+                            "fadvise length overflows off_t");
 #ifdef POSIX_FADV_DONTNEED
-    posix_fadvise(fd, 0, ofs, POSIX_FADV_DONTNEED);
+    posix_fadvise(fd, ofs, len, POSIX_FADV_DONTNEED);
 #endif    
     return Py_BuildValue("");
 }
@@ -962,7 +1254,7 @@ static PyObject *bup_get_linux_file_attr(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     char *path;
     int fd;
 
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &path))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, cstr_argf, &path))
         return NULL;
 
     fd = _open_noatime(path, O_NONBLOCK);
@@ -994,7 +1286,7 @@ static PyObject *bup_set_linux_file_attr(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     PyObject *py_attr;
     int fd;
 
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "sO", &path, &py_attr))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, cstr_argf "O", &path, &py_attr))
         return NULL;
 
     if (!bup_uint_from_py(&attr, py_attr, "attr"))
@@ -1015,12 +1307,12 @@ static PyObject *bup_set_linux_file_attr(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     // The extents flag can't be removed, so don't (see chattr(1) and chattr.c).
     orig_attr = 0; // Handle int/long mismatch (see above)
     rc = ioctl(fd, FS_IOC_GETFLAGS, &orig_attr);
-    assert(orig_attr <= UINT_MAX);  // Kernel type is actually int
     if (rc == -1)
     {
         close(fd);
         return PyErr_SetFromErrnoWithFilename(PyExc_OSError, path);
     }
+    assert(orig_attr <= UINT_MAX);  // Kernel type is actually int
     attr |= ((unsigned int) orig_attr) & FS_EXTENT_FL;
 
     rc = ioctl(fd, FS_IOC_SETFLAGS, &attr);
@@ -1090,7 +1382,7 @@ static PyObject *bup_utimensat(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     PyObject *access_py, *modification_py;
     struct timespec ts[2];
 
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "is((Ol)(Ol))i",
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "i" cstr_argf "((Ol)(Ol))i",
                           &fd,
                           &path,
                           &access_py, &(ts[0].tv_nsec),
@@ -1132,7 +1424,7 @@ static int bup_parse_xutimes_args(char **path,
     PyObject *access_py, *modification_py;
     long long access_us, modification_us; // POSIX guarantees tv_usec is signed.
 
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s((OL)(OL))",
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, cstr_argf "((OL)(OL))",
                           path,
                           &access_py, &access_us,
                           &modification_py, &modification_us))
@@ -1224,7 +1516,7 @@ static PyObject *stat_struct_to_py(const struct stat *st,
     // compile time, but not (easily) the unspecified types, so handle
     // those via INTEGER_TO_PY().  Assumes ns values will fit in a
     // long.
-    return Py_BuildValue("OKOOOOOL(Ol)(Ol)(Ol)",
+    return Py_BuildValue("NKNNNNNL(Nl)(Nl)(Nl)",
                          INTEGER_TO_PY(st->st_mode),
                          (unsigned PY_LONG_LONG) st->st_ino,
                          INTEGER_TO_PY(st->st_dev),
@@ -1248,7 +1540,7 @@ static PyObject *bup_stat(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     int rc;
     char *filename;
 
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &filename))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, cstr_argf, &filename))
         return NULL;
 
     struct stat st;
@@ -1264,7 +1556,7 @@ static PyObject *bup_lstat(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     int rc;
     char *filename;
 
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &filename))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, cstr_argf, &filename))
         return NULL;
 
     struct stat st;
@@ -1290,6 +1582,92 @@ static PyObject *bup_fstat(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 }
 
 
+#ifdef HAVE_TM_TM_GMTOFF
+static PyObject *bup_localtime(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
+{
+    long long lltime;
+    time_t ttime;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "L", &lltime))
+       return NULL;
+    if (!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&ttime, lltime))
+        return PyErr_Format(PyExc_OverflowError, "time value too large");
+
+    struct tm tm;
+    tzset();
+    if(localtime_r(&ttime, &tm) == NULL)
+        return PyErr_SetFromErrno(PyExc_OSError);
+
+    // Match the Python struct_time values.
+    return Py_BuildValue("[i,i,i,i,i,i,i,i,i,i,s]",
+                         1900 + tm.tm_year, tm.tm_mon + 1, tm.tm_mday,
+                         tm.tm_hour, tm.tm_min, tm.tm_sec,
+                         tm.tm_wday, tm.tm_yday + 1,
+                         tm.tm_isdst, tm.tm_gmtoff, tm.tm_zone);
+}
+#endif /* def HAVE_TM_TM_GMTOFF */
+
+
+#ifdef BUP_MINCORE_BUF_TYPE
+static PyObject *bup_mincore(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
+{
+    Py_buffer src, dest;
+    PyObject *py_src_n, *py_src_off, *py_dest_off;
+
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, cstr_argf "*OOw*O",
+                          &src, &py_src_n, &py_src_off,
+                          &dest, &py_dest_off))
+       return NULL;
+
+    PyObject *result = NULL;
+
+    unsigned long long src_n, src_off, dest_off;
+    if (!(bup_ullong_from_py(&src_n, py_src_n, "src_n")
+          && bup_ullong_from_py(&src_off, py_src_off, "src_off")
+          && bup_ullong_from_py(&dest_off, py_dest_off, "dest_off")))
+        goto clean_and_return;
+
+    unsigned long long src_region_end;
+    if (!uadd(&src_region_end, src_off, src_n)) {
+        result = PyErr_Format(PyExc_OverflowError, "(src_off + src_n) too large");
+        goto clean_and_return;
+    }
+    assert(src.len >= 0);
+    if (src_region_end > (unsigned long long) src.len) {
+        result = PyErr_Format(PyExc_OverflowError, "region runs off end of src");
+        goto clean_and_return;
+    }
+
+    unsigned long long dest_size;
+    if (!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&dest_size, dest.len)) {
+        result = PyErr_Format(PyExc_OverflowError, "invalid dest size");
+        goto clean_and_return;
+    }
+    if (dest_off > dest_size) {
+        result = PyErr_Format(PyExc_OverflowError, "region runs off end of dest");
+        goto clean_and_return;
+    }
+
+    size_t length;
+    if (!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&length, src_n)) {
+        result = PyErr_Format(PyExc_OverflowError, "src_n overflows size_t");
+        goto clean_and_return;
+    }
+    int rc = mincore((void *)(src.buf + src_off), src_n,
+                     (BUP_MINCORE_BUF_TYPE *) (dest.buf + dest_off));
+    if (rc != 0) {
+        result = PyErr_SetFromErrno(PyExc_OSError);
+        goto clean_and_return;
+    }
+    result = Py_BuildValue("O", Py_None);
+
+ clean_and_return:
+    PyBuffer_Release(&src);
+    PyBuffer_Release(&dest);
+    return result;
+}
+#endif /* def BUP_MINCORE_BUF_TYPE */
+
+
 static PyMethodDef helper_methods[] = {
     { "write_sparsely", bup_write_sparsely, METH_VARARGS,
       "Write buf excepting zeros at the end. Return trailing zero count." },
@@ -1348,15 +1726,55 @@ static PyMethodDef helper_methods[] = {
       "Extended version of lstat." },
     { "fstat", bup_fstat, METH_VARARGS,
       "Extended version of fstat." },
+#ifdef HAVE_TM_TM_GMTOFF
+    { "localtime", bup_localtime, METH_VARARGS,
+      "Return struct_time elements plus the timezone offset and name." },
+#endif
+    { "bytescmp", bup_bytescmp, METH_VARARGS,
+      "Return a negative value if x < y, zero if equal, positive otherwise."},
+#ifdef BUP_MINCORE_BUF_TYPE
+    { "mincore", bup_mincore, METH_VARARGS,
+      "For mincore(src, src_n, src_off, dest, dest_off)"
+      " call the system mincore(src + src_off, src_n, &dest[dest_off])." },
+#endif
     { NULL, NULL, 0, NULL },  // sentinel
 };
 
+static void test_integral_assignment_fits(void)
+{
+    assert(sizeof(signed short) == sizeof(unsigned short));
+    assert(sizeof(signed short) < sizeof(signed long long));
+    assert(sizeof(signed short) < sizeof(unsigned long long));
+    assert(sizeof(unsigned short) < sizeof(signed long long));
+    assert(sizeof(unsigned short) < sizeof(unsigned long long));
+    assert(sizeof(Py_ssize_t) <= sizeof(size_t));
+    {
+        signed short ss, ssmin = SHRT_MIN, ssmax = SHRT_MAX;
+        unsigned short us, usmax = USHRT_MAX;
+        signed long long sllmin = LLONG_MIN, sllmax = LLONG_MAX;
+        unsigned long long ullmax = ULLONG_MAX;
+
+        assert(INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&ss, ssmax));
+        assert(INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&ss, ssmin));
+        assert(!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&ss, usmax));
+        assert(!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&ss, sllmin));
+        assert(!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&ss, sllmax));
+        assert(!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&ss, ullmax));
+
+        assert(INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&us, usmax));
+        assert(!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&us, ssmin));
+        assert(!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&us, sllmin));
+        assert(!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&us, sllmax));
+        assert(!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&us, ullmax));
+    }
+}
 
-PyMODINIT_FUNC init_helpers(void)
+static int setup_module(PyObject *m)
 {
-    // FIXME: migrate these tests to configure.  Check against the
-    // type we're going to use when passing to python.  Other stat
-    // types are tested at runtime.
+    // FIXME: migrate these tests to configure, or at least don't
+    // possibly crash the whole application.  Check against the type
+    // we're going to use when passing to python.  Other stat types
+    // are tested at runtime.
     assert(sizeof(ino_t) <= sizeof(unsigned PY_LONG_LONG));
     assert(sizeof(off_t) <= sizeof(PY_LONG_LONG));
     assert(sizeof(blksize_t) <= sizeof(PY_LONG_LONG));
@@ -1365,13 +1783,30 @@ PyMODINIT_FUNC init_helpers(void)
     assert(sizeof(PY_LONG_LONG) <= sizeof(long long));
     assert(sizeof(unsigned PY_LONG_LONG) <= sizeof(unsigned long long));
 
-    char *e;
-    PyObject *m = Py_InitModule("_helpers", helper_methods);
-    if (m == NULL)
-        return;
+    test_integral_assignment_fits();
 
+    // Originally required by append_sparse_region()
+    {
+        off_t probe;
+        if (!INTEGRAL_ASSIGNMENT_FITS(&probe, INT_MAX))
+        {
+            fprintf(stderr, "off_t can't hold INT_MAX; please report.\n");
+            exit(1);
+        }
+    }
+
+    char *e;
 #pragma clang diagnostic push
 #pragma clang diagnostic ignored "-Wtautological-compare" // For INTEGER_TO_PY().
+    {
+        PyObject *value;
+        value = INTEGER_TO_PY(INT_MAX);
+        PyObject_SetAttrString(m, "INT_MAX", value);
+        Py_DECREF(value);
+        value = INTEGER_TO_PY(UINT_MAX);
+        PyObject_SetAttrString(m, "UINT_MAX", value);
+        Py_DECREF(value);
+    }
 #ifdef HAVE_UTIMENSAT
     {
         PyObject *value;
@@ -1386,21 +1821,63 @@ PyMODINIT_FUNC init_helpers(void)
         Py_DECREF(value);
     }
 #endif
+#ifdef BUP_HAVE_MINCORE_INCORE
     {
         PyObject *value;
-        const long arg_max = sysconf(_SC_ARG_MAX);
-        if (arg_max == -1)
-        {
-            fprintf(stderr, "Cannot find SC_ARG_MAX, please report a bug.\n");
-            exit(1);
-        }
-        value = INTEGER_TO_PY(arg_max);
-        PyObject_SetAttrString(m, "SC_ARG_MAX", value);
+        value = INTEGER_TO_PY(MINCORE_INCORE);
+        PyObject_SetAttrString(m, "MINCORE_INCORE", value);
         Py_DECREF(value);
     }
+#endif
 #pragma clang diagnostic pop  // ignored "-Wtautological-compare"
 
     e = getenv("BUP_FORCE_TTY");
-    istty2 = isatty(2) || (atoi(e ? e : "0") & 2);
+    get_state(m)->istty2 = isatty(2) || (atoi(e ? e : "0") & 2);
     unpythonize_argv();
+    return 1;
 }
+
+
+#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
+
+PyMODINIT_FUNC init_helpers(void)
+{
+    PyObject *m = Py_InitModule("_helpers", helper_methods);
+    if (m == NULL)
+        return;
+
+    if (!setup_module(m))
+    {
+        Py_DECREF(m);
+        return;
+    }
+}
+
+# else // PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
+
+static struct PyModuleDef helpers_def = {
+    PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
+    "_helpers",
+    NULL,
+    sizeof(state_t),
+    helper_methods,
+    NULL,
+    NULL, // helpers_traverse,
+    NULL, // helpers_clear,
+    NULL
+};
+
+PyMODINIT_FUNC PyInit__helpers(void)
+{
+    PyObject *module = PyModule_Create(&helpers_def);
+    if (module == NULL)
+        return NULL;
+    if (!setup_module(module))
+    {
+        Py_DECREF(module);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    return module;
+}
+
+#endif // PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3