bpo-32030: Rewrite _PyMainInterpreterConfig (#4854)

_PyMainInterpreterConfig now contains Python objects, whereas
_PyCoreConfig contains wchar_t* strings.

Core config:

* Rename _PyMainInterpreterConfig_ReadEnv() to _PyCoreConfig_ReadEnv()
* Move 3 strings from _PyMainInterpreterConfig to _PyCoreConfig:
  module_search_path_env, home, program_name.
* Add _PyCoreConfig_Clear()
* _PyPathConfig_Calculate() now takes core config rather than main
  config
* _PyMainInterpreterConfig_Read() now requires also a core config

Main config:

* Add _PyMainInterpreterConfig.module_search_path: sys.path list
* Add _PyMainInterpreterConfig.argv: sys.argv list
* _PyMainInterpreterConfig_Read() now computes module_search_path
diff --git a/Include/internal/pystate.h b/Include/internal/pystate.h
index 6b527fb..305526d 100644
--- a/Include/internal/pystate.h
+++ b/Include/internal/pystate.h
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
 
 PyAPI_FUNC(_PyInitError) _PyPathConfig_Calculate(
     _PyPathConfig *config,
-    const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config);
+    const _PyCoreConfig *core_config);
 PyAPI_FUNC(void) _PyPathConfig_Clear(_PyPathConfig *config);
 
 
diff --git a/Include/pylifecycle.h b/Include/pylifecycle.h
index 17ed110..61ed6cc 100644
--- a/Include/pylifecycle.h
+++ b/Include/pylifecycle.h
@@ -54,8 +54,11 @@
 PyAPI_FUNC(_PyInitError) _Py_InitializeCore(const _PyCoreConfig *);
 PyAPI_FUNC(int) _Py_IsCoreInitialized(void);
 
-PyAPI_FUNC(_PyInitError) _PyMainInterpreterConfig_Read(_PyMainInterpreterConfig *);
-PyAPI_FUNC(_PyInitError) _PyMainInterpreterConfig_ReadEnv(_PyMainInterpreterConfig *);
+PyAPI_FUNC(_PyInitError) _PyCoreConfig_ReadEnv(_PyCoreConfig *);
+PyAPI_FUNC(_PyInitError) _PyCoreConfig_Read(_PyCoreConfig *);
+PyAPI_FUNC(void) _PyCoreConfig_Clear(_PyCoreConfig *);
+
+PyAPI_FUNC(_PyInitError) _PyMainInterpreterConfig_Read(_PyMainInterpreterConfig *, _PyCoreConfig *);
 PyAPI_FUNC(void) _PyMainInterpreterConfig_Clear(_PyMainInterpreterConfig *);
 
 PyAPI_FUNC(_PyInitError) _Py_InitializeMainInterpreter(const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *);
@@ -103,8 +106,7 @@
 PyAPI_FUNC(wchar_t *) Py_GetExecPrefix(void);
 PyAPI_FUNC(wchar_t *) Py_GetPath(void);
 #ifdef Py_BUILD_CORE
-PyAPI_FUNC(_PyInitError) _PyPathConfig_Init(
-    const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config);
+PyAPI_FUNC(_PyInitError) _PyPathConfig_Init(const _PyCoreConfig *core_config);
 PyAPI_FUNC(PyObject*) _PyPathConfig_ComputeArgv0(int argc, wchar_t **argv);
 #endif
 PyAPI_FUNC(void)      Py_SetPath(const wchar_t *);
diff --git a/Include/pystate.h b/Include/pystate.h
index c7ea179..9a26cc3 100644
--- a/Include/pystate.h
+++ b/Include/pystate.h
@@ -39,6 +39,11 @@
     int dump_refs;          /* PYTHONDUMPREFS */
     int malloc_stats;       /* PYTHONMALLOCSTATS */
     int utf8_mode;          /* -X utf8 or PYTHONUTF8 environment variable */
+
+    wchar_t *module_search_path_env; /* PYTHONPATH environment variable */
+    wchar_t *home;          /* PYTHONHOME environment variable,
+                               see also Py_SetPythonHome(). */
+    wchar_t *program_name;  /* Program name, see also Py_GetProgramName() */
 } _PyCoreConfig;
 
 #define _PyCoreConfig_INIT (_PyCoreConfig){.use_hash_seed = -1}
@@ -52,12 +57,8 @@
  */
 typedef struct {
     int install_signal_handlers;
-    /* PYTHONPATH environment variable */
-    wchar_t *module_search_path_env;
-    /* PYTHONHOME environment variable, see also Py_SetPythonHome(). */
-    wchar_t *home;
-    /* Program name, see also Py_GetProgramName() */
-    wchar_t *program_name;
+    PyObject *argv;                 /* sys.argv list, can be NULL */
+    PyObject *module_search_path;   /* sys.path list */
 } _PyMainInterpreterConfig;
 
 #define _PyMainInterpreterConfig_INIT \
diff --git a/Modules/getpath.c b/Modules/getpath.c
index 11babf0..6208a17 100644
--- a/Modules/getpath.c
+++ b/Modules/getpath.c
@@ -356,15 +356,15 @@
    bytes long.
 */
 static int
-search_for_prefix(const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config,
+search_for_prefix(const _PyCoreConfig *core_config,
                   PyCalculatePath *calculate, wchar_t *prefix)
 {
     size_t n;
     wchar_t *vpath;
 
     /* If PYTHONHOME is set, we believe it unconditionally */
-    if (main_config->home) {
-        wcsncpy(prefix, main_config->home, MAXPATHLEN);
+    if (core_config->home) {
+        wcsncpy(prefix, core_config->home, MAXPATHLEN);
         prefix[MAXPATHLEN] = L'\0';
         wchar_t *delim = wcschr(prefix, DELIM);
         if (delim) {
@@ -423,10 +423,10 @@
 
 
 static void
-calculate_prefix(const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config,
+calculate_prefix(const _PyCoreConfig *core_config,
                  PyCalculatePath *calculate, wchar_t *prefix)
 {
-    calculate->prefix_found = search_for_prefix(main_config, calculate, prefix);
+    calculate->prefix_found = search_for_prefix(core_config, calculate, prefix);
     if (!calculate->prefix_found) {
         if (!Py_FrozenFlag) {
             fprintf(stderr,
@@ -468,19 +468,19 @@
    MAXPATHLEN bytes long.
 */
 static int
-search_for_exec_prefix(const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config,
+search_for_exec_prefix(const _PyCoreConfig *core_config,
                        PyCalculatePath *calculate, wchar_t *exec_prefix)
 {
     size_t n;
 
     /* If PYTHONHOME is set, we believe it unconditionally */
-    if (main_config->home) {
-        wchar_t *delim = wcschr(main_config->home, DELIM);
+    if (core_config->home) {
+        wchar_t *delim = wcschr(core_config->home, DELIM);
         if (delim) {
             wcsncpy(exec_prefix, delim+1, MAXPATHLEN);
         }
         else {
-            wcsncpy(exec_prefix, main_config->home, MAXPATHLEN);
+            wcsncpy(exec_prefix, core_config->home, MAXPATHLEN);
         }
         exec_prefix[MAXPATHLEN] = L'\0';
         joinpath(exec_prefix, calculate->lib_python);
@@ -551,10 +551,10 @@
 
 
 static void
-calculate_exec_prefix(const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config,
+calculate_exec_prefix(const _PyCoreConfig *core_config,
                       PyCalculatePath *calculate, wchar_t *exec_prefix)
 {
-    calculate->exec_prefix_found = search_for_exec_prefix(main_config,
+    calculate->exec_prefix_found = search_for_exec_prefix(core_config,
                                                           calculate,
                                                           exec_prefix);
     if (!calculate->exec_prefix_found) {
@@ -587,7 +587,7 @@
 
 
 static _PyInitError
-calculate_program_full_path(const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config,
+calculate_program_full_path(const _PyCoreConfig *core_config,
                             PyCalculatePath *calculate, _PyPathConfig *config)
 {
     wchar_t program_full_path[MAXPATHLEN+1];
@@ -607,8 +607,8 @@
      * other way to find a directory to start the search from.  If
      * $PATH isn't exported, you lose.
      */
-    if (wcschr(main_config->program_name, SEP)) {
-        wcsncpy(program_full_path, main_config->program_name, MAXPATHLEN);
+    if (wcschr(core_config->program_name, SEP)) {
+        wcsncpy(program_full_path, core_config->program_name, MAXPATHLEN);
     }
 #ifdef __APPLE__
      /* On Mac OS X, if a script uses an interpreter of the form
@@ -650,7 +650,7 @@
                 wcsncpy(program_full_path, path, MAXPATHLEN);
             }
 
-            joinpath(program_full_path, main_config->program_name);
+            joinpath(program_full_path, core_config->program_name);
             if (isxfile(program_full_path)) {
                 break;
             }
@@ -815,15 +815,15 @@
 
 
 static _PyInitError
-calculate_module_search_path(const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config,
+calculate_module_search_path(const _PyCoreConfig *core_config,
                              PyCalculatePath *calculate,
                              const wchar_t *prefix, const wchar_t *exec_prefix,
                              _PyPathConfig *config)
 {
     /* Calculate size of return buffer */
     size_t bufsz = 0;
-    if (main_config->module_search_path_env != NULL) {
-        bufsz += wcslen(main_config->module_search_path_env) + 1;
+    if (core_config->module_search_path_env != NULL) {
+        bufsz += wcslen(core_config->module_search_path_env) + 1;
     }
 
     wchar_t *defpath = calculate->pythonpath;
@@ -857,8 +857,8 @@
     buf[0] = '\0';
 
     /* Run-time value of $PYTHONPATH goes first */
-    if (main_config->module_search_path_env) {
-        wcscpy(buf, main_config->module_search_path_env);
+    if (core_config->module_search_path_env) {
+        wcscpy(buf, core_config->module_search_path_env);
         wcscat(buf, delimiter);
     }
 
@@ -907,7 +907,7 @@
 
 static _PyInitError
 calculate_init(PyCalculatePath *calculate,
-               const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config)
+               const _PyCoreConfig *core_config)
 {
     size_t len;
     const char *path = getenv("PATH");
@@ -950,12 +950,12 @@
 
 
 static _PyInitError
-calculate_path_impl(const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config,
+calculate_path_impl(const _PyCoreConfig *core_config,
                     PyCalculatePath *calculate, _PyPathConfig *config)
 {
     _PyInitError err;
 
-    err = calculate_program_full_path(main_config, calculate, config);
+    err = calculate_program_full_path(core_config, calculate, config);
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
         return err;
     }
@@ -969,13 +969,13 @@
 
     wchar_t prefix[MAXPATHLEN+1];
     memset(prefix, 0, sizeof(prefix));
-    calculate_prefix(main_config, calculate, prefix);
+    calculate_prefix(core_config, calculate, prefix);
 
     calculate_zip_path(calculate, prefix);
 
     wchar_t exec_prefix[MAXPATHLEN+1];
     memset(exec_prefix, 0, sizeof(exec_prefix));
-    calculate_exec_prefix(main_config, calculate, exec_prefix);
+    calculate_exec_prefix(core_config, calculate, exec_prefix);
 
     if ((!calculate->prefix_found || !calculate->exec_prefix_found) &&
         !Py_FrozenFlag)
@@ -984,7 +984,7 @@
                 "Consider setting $PYTHONHOME to <prefix>[:<exec_prefix>]\n");
     }
 
-    err = calculate_module_search_path(main_config, calculate,
+    err = calculate_module_search_path(core_config, calculate,
                                        prefix, exec_prefix, config);
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
         return err;
@@ -1009,18 +1009,17 @@
 
 
 _PyInitError
-_PyPathConfig_Calculate(_PyPathConfig *config,
-                        const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config)
+_PyPathConfig_Calculate(_PyPathConfig *config, const _PyCoreConfig *core_config)
 {
     PyCalculatePath calculate;
     memset(&calculate, 0, sizeof(calculate));
 
-    _PyInitError err = calculate_init(&calculate, main_config);
+    _PyInitError err = calculate_init(&calculate, core_config);
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
         goto done;
     }
 
-    err = calculate_path_impl(main_config, &calculate, config);
+    err = calculate_path_impl(core_config, &calculate, config);
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
         goto done;
     }
diff --git a/Modules/main.c b/Modules/main.c
index 7c71775..3f942fe 100644
--- a/Modules/main.c
+++ b/Modules/main.c
@@ -410,13 +410,6 @@
 #endif
 } _Py_CommandLineDetails;
 
-/* FIXME: temporary structure until sys module configuration can be moved
-   into _PyMainInterpreterConfig */
-typedef struct {
-    PyObject *argv;     /* sys.argv list */
-    PyObject *path0;    /* path0: if set, it is prepended to sys.path */
-} _PySysConfig;
-
 /* Structure used by Py_Main() to pass data to subfunctions */
 typedef struct {
     /* Exit status ("exit code") */
@@ -426,7 +419,6 @@
     int stdin_is_interactive;
     _PyCoreConfig core_config;
     _PyMainInterpreterConfig config;
-    _PySysConfig sys_config;
     _Py_CommandLineDetails cmdline;
     PyObject *main_importer_path;
     /* non-zero if filename, command (-c) or module (-m) is set
@@ -438,6 +430,9 @@
     _Py_OptList env_warning_options;
     int argc;
     wchar_t **argv;
+
+    int sys_argc;
+    wchar_t **sys_argv;
 } _PyMain;
 
 /* .cmdline is initialized to zeros */
@@ -472,7 +467,7 @@
 {
     _PyPathConfig_Clear(&_Py_path_config);
     _PyImport_Fini2();
-    _PyMainInterpreterConfig_Clear(&pymain->config);
+    _PyCoreConfig_Clear(&pymain->core_config);
 
 #ifdef __INSURE__
     /* Insure++ is a memory analysis tool that aids in discovering
@@ -497,13 +492,21 @@
     pymain_optlist_clear(&cmdline->xoptions);
     PyMem_RawFree(cmdline->command);
 
+    PyMem_RawFree(pymain->sys_argv);
     pymain_optlist_clear(&pymain->env_warning_options);
+}
+
+
+/* Clear Python ojects */
+static void
+pymain_free_python(_PyMain *pymain)
+{
     Py_CLEAR(pymain->main_importer_path);
 
-    Py_CLEAR(pymain->sys_config.argv);
-    Py_CLEAR(pymain->sys_config.path0);
+    _PyMainInterpreterConfig_Clear(&pymain->config);
 }
 
+
 static void
 pymain_free(_PyMain *pymain)
 {
@@ -511,12 +514,14 @@
     PyMemAllocatorEx old_alloc;
     _PyMem_SetDefaultAllocator(PYMEM_DOMAIN_RAW, &old_alloc);
 
+    pymain_free_python(pymain);
     pymain_free_pymain(pymain);
     pymain_free_globals(pymain);
 
     PyMem_SetAllocator(PYMEM_DOMAIN_RAW, &old_alloc);
 }
 
+
 static int
 pymain_run_main_from_importer(_PyMain *pymain)
 {
@@ -974,7 +979,7 @@
 /* Get the program name: use PYTHONEXECUTABLE and __PYVENV_LAUNCHER__
    environment variables on macOS if available. */
 static _PyInitError
-config_get_program_name(_PyMainInterpreterConfig *config)
+config_get_program_name(_PyCoreConfig *config)
 {
     assert(config->program_name == NULL);
 
@@ -1035,10 +1040,10 @@
 static int
 pymain_get_program_name(_PyMain *pymain)
 {
-    if (pymain->config.program_name == NULL) {
+    if (pymain->core_config.program_name == NULL) {
         /* Use argv[0] by default */
-        pymain->config.program_name = pymain_wstrdup(pymain, pymain->argv[0]);
-        if (pymain->config.program_name == NULL) {
+        pymain->core_config.program_name = pymain_wstrdup(pymain, pymain->argv[0]);
+        if (pymain->core_config.program_name == NULL) {
             return -1;
         }
     }
@@ -1086,36 +1091,40 @@
 }
 
 
-static PyObject *
-pymain_create_argv_list(int argc, wchar_t **argv)
+static int
+pymain_create_argv_list(_PyMain *pymain)
 {
-    if (argc <= 0 || argv == NULL) {
+    int argc = pymain->sys_argc;
+    wchar_t** argv = pymain->sys_argv;
+
+    if (argc <= 0 || pymain->sys_argv == NULL) {
         /* Ensure at least one (empty) argument is seen */
         static wchar_t *empty_argv[1] = {L""};
         argv = empty_argv;
         argc = 1;
     }
 
-    PyObject *av = PyList_New(argc);
-    if (av == NULL) {
-        return NULL;
+    PyObject *list = PyList_New(argc);
+    if (list == NULL) {
+        return -1;
     }
 
     for (int i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
         PyObject *v = PyUnicode_FromWideChar(argv[i], -1);
         if (v == NULL) {
-            Py_DECREF(av);
-            return NULL;
+            Py_DECREF(list);
+            return -1;
         }
-        PyList_SET_ITEM(av, i, v);
+        PyList_SET_ITEM(list, i, v);
     }
-    return av;
+
+    pymain->config.argv = list;
+    return 0;
 }
 
 
-/* Create sys.argv list and maybe also path0 */
 static int
-pymain_compute_argv(_PyMain *pymain)
+pymain_init_sys_argv(_PyMain *pymain)
 {
     _Py_CommandLineDetails *cmdline = &pymain->cmdline;
 
@@ -1125,84 +1134,61 @@
     }
 
     /* Copy argv to be able to modify it (to force -c/-m) */
-    int argc2 = pymain->argc - _PyOS_optind;
-    size_t size = argc2 * sizeof(pymain->argv[0]);
-    wchar_t **argv2 = PyMem_RawMalloc(size);
-    if (argv2 == NULL) {
+    pymain->sys_argc = pymain->argc - _PyOS_optind;
+    size_t size = pymain->sys_argc * sizeof(pymain->argv[0]);
+    pymain->sys_argv = PyMem_RawMalloc(size);
+    if (pymain->sys_argv == NULL) {
         pymain->err = _Py_INIT_NO_MEMORY();
         return -1;
     }
-    memcpy(argv2, &pymain->argv[_PyOS_optind], size);
+    memcpy(pymain->sys_argv, &pymain->argv[_PyOS_optind], size);
 
-    /* TODO: Move this to _Py_InitializeMainInterpreter */
     if (cmdline->command != NULL) {
         /* Force sys.argv[0] = '-c' */
-        argv2[0] = L"-c";
+        pymain->sys_argv[0] = L"-c";
     }
     else if (cmdline->module != NULL) {
         /* Force sys.argv[0] = '-m'*/
-        argv2[0] = L"-m";
+        pymain->sys_argv[0] = L"-m";
     }
-
-    /* Create sys.argv list */
-    pymain->sys_config.argv = pymain_create_argv_list(argc2, argv2);
-    if (pymain->sys_config.argv == NULL) {
-        pymain->err = _Py_INIT_ERR("failed to create sys.argv");
-        goto error;
-    }
-
-    /* Need to update sys.path[0]? */
-    int update_path;
-    if (pymain->main_importer_path != NULL) {
-        /* Let pymain_run_main_from_importer() adjust sys.path[0] later */
-        update_path = 0;
-    } else {
-        /* Use config settings to decide whether or not to update sys.path[0] */
-        update_path = (Py_IsolatedFlag == 0);
-    }
-
-    /* If '-c' and '-m' options are not used in the command line
-       and update_path is non-zero, prepend argv[0] to sys.path. If argv[0] is
-       a symlink, use the real path. */
-    if (update_path) {
-        pymain->sys_config.path0 = _PyPathConfig_ComputeArgv0(argc2, argv2);
-        if (pymain->sys_config.path0 == NULL) {
-            pymain->err = _Py_INIT_NO_MEMORY();
-            goto error;
-        }
-    }
-    PyMem_RawFree(argv2);
     return 0;
-
-error:
-    return -1;
 }
 
+
 static int
-pymain_set_sys_argv(_PyMain *pymain)
+pymain_update_sys_path(_PyMain *pymain)
 {
-    /* Set sys.argv */
-    if (PySys_SetObject("argv", pymain->sys_config.argv) != 0) {
-        pymain->err = _Py_INIT_ERR("can't assign sys.argv");
+    if (pymain->main_importer_path != NULL) {
+        /* Let pymain_run_main_from_importer() adjust sys.path[0] later */
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    if (Py_IsolatedFlag) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    /* Prepend argv[0] to sys.path.
+       If argv[0] is a symlink, use the real path. */
+    PyObject *sys_path = PySys_GetObject("path");
+    if (sys_path == NULL) {
+        pymain->err = _Py_INIT_ERR("can't get sys.path");
         return -1;
     }
-    Py_CLEAR(pymain->sys_config.argv);
 
-    if (pymain->sys_config.path0 != NULL) {
-        /* Prepend path0 to sys.path */
-        PyObject *sys_path = PySys_GetObject("path");
-        if (sys_path == NULL) {
-            pymain->err = _Py_INIT_ERR("can't get sys.path");
-            return -1;
-        }
-
-        if (PyList_Insert(sys_path, 0, pymain->sys_config.path0) < 0) {
-            pymain->err = _Py_INIT_ERR("sys.path.insert(0, path0) failed");
-            return -1;
-        }
-        Py_CLEAR(pymain->sys_config.path0);
+    PyObject *path0 = _PyPathConfig_ComputeArgv0(pymain->sys_argc, pymain->sys_argv);
+    if (path0 == NULL) {
+        pymain->err = _Py_INIT_NO_MEMORY();
+        return -1;
     }
 
+    /* Prepend path0 to sys.path */
+    if (PyList_Insert(sys_path, 0, path0) < 0) {
+        Py_DECREF(path0);
+        pymain->err = _Py_INIT_ERR("sys.path.insert(0, path0) failed");
+        return -1;
+    }
+    Py_DECREF(path0);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -1627,7 +1613,7 @@
 
 
 static _PyInitError
-config_init_pythonpath(_PyMainInterpreterConfig *config)
+config_init_pythonpath(_PyCoreConfig *config)
 {
     wchar_t *path;
     int res = config_get_env_var_dup(&path, L"PYTHONPATH", "PYTHONPATH");
@@ -1640,7 +1626,7 @@
 
 
 static _PyInitError
-config_init_home(_PyMainInterpreterConfig *config)
+config_init_home(_PyCoreConfig *config)
 {
     wchar_t *home;
 
@@ -1664,7 +1650,7 @@
 
 
 _PyInitError
-_PyMainInterpreterConfig_ReadEnv(_PyMainInterpreterConfig *config)
+_PyCoreConfig_ReadEnv(_PyCoreConfig *config)
 {
     _PyInitError err = config_init_home(config);
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
@@ -1756,7 +1742,7 @@
         return -1;
     }
 
-    _PyInitError err = _PyMainInterpreterConfig_ReadEnv(&pymain->config);
+    _PyInitError err = _PyCoreConfig_ReadEnv(&pymain->core_config);
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(pymain->err)) {
         pymain->err = err;
         return -1;
@@ -1834,12 +1820,15 @@
     }
     /* FIXME: if utf8_mode value changed, parse again cmdline */
 
-    _PyInitError err = _PyMainInterpreterConfig_Read(&pymain->config);
+    if (pymain_init_sys_argv(pymain) < 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    _PyInitError err = _PyCoreConfig_Read(&pymain->core_config);
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
         pymain->err = err;
         return -1;
     }
-
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -1858,10 +1847,85 @@
     return res;
 }
 
-static int
-pymain_init_python(_PyMain *pymain)
-{
 
+static PyObject *
+config_create_path_list(const wchar_t *path, wchar_t delim)
+{
+    int i, n;
+    const wchar_t *p;
+    PyObject *v;
+
+    n = 1;
+    p = path;
+    while ((p = wcschr(p, delim)) != NULL) {
+        n++;
+        p++;
+    }
+    v = PyList_New(n);
+    if (v == NULL) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    for (i = 0; ; i++) {
+        p = wcschr(path, delim);
+        if (p == NULL) {
+            p = path + wcslen(path); /* End of string */
+        }
+        PyObject *w = PyUnicode_FromWideChar(path, (Py_ssize_t)(p - path));
+        if (w == NULL) {
+            Py_DECREF(v);
+            return NULL;
+        }
+        PyList_SET_ITEM(v, i, w);
+        if (*p == '\0') {
+            break;
+        }
+        path = p+1;
+    }
+    return v;
+}
+
+
+static _PyInitError
+config_init_module_search_path(_PyMainInterpreterConfig *config, _PyCoreConfig *core_config)
+{
+    _PyInitError err = _PyPathConfig_Init(core_config);
+    if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
+        return err;
+    }
+    wchar_t *sys_path = Py_GetPath();
+
+    config->module_search_path = config_create_path_list(sys_path, DELIM);
+    if (config->module_search_path == NULL) {
+        return _Py_INIT_NO_MEMORY();
+    }
+    return _Py_INIT_OK();
+}
+
+
+_PyInitError
+_PyMainInterpreterConfig_Read(_PyMainInterpreterConfig *config, _PyCoreConfig *core_config)
+{
+    /* Signal handlers are installed by default */
+    if (config->install_signal_handlers < 0) {
+        config->install_signal_handlers = 1;
+    }
+
+    if (config->module_search_path == NULL &&
+        !core_config->_disable_importlib)
+    {
+        _PyInitError err = config_init_module_search_path(config, core_config);
+        if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
+            return err;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return _Py_INIT_OK();
+}
+
+
+static int
+pymain_init_python_core(_PyMain *pymain)
+{
     pymain_set_global_config(pymain);
 
     pymain_init_stdio(pymain);
@@ -1870,7 +1934,13 @@
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(pymain->err)) {
         return -1;
     }
+    return 0;
+}
 
+
+static int
+pymain_init_python_main(_PyMain *pymain)
+{
     if (pymain_add_xoptions(pymain)) {
         return -1;
     }
@@ -1878,6 +1948,19 @@
         return -1;
     }
 
+    /* Create sys.argv list */
+    if (pymain_create_argv_list(pymain) < 0) {
+        pymain->err = _Py_INIT_ERR("failed to create sys.argv");
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    _PyInitError err = _PyMainInterpreterConfig_Read(&pymain->config,
+                                                     &pymain->core_config);
+    if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
+        pymain->err = err;
+        return -1;
+    }
+
     if (pymain_init_main_interpreter(pymain)) {
         return -1;
     }
@@ -1890,14 +1973,7 @@
         pymain->main_importer_path = pymain_get_importer(pymain->cmdline.filename);
     }
 
-    /* FIXME: put argv into _PyMainInterpreterConfig.
-       Currently, PySys_SetArgvEx() can still modify sys.path and so must be
-       called after _Py_InitializeMainInterpreter() which calls
-       _PyPathConfig_Init(). */
-    if (pymain_compute_argv(pymain) < 0) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-    if (pymain_set_sys_argv(pymain) < 0) {
+    if (pymain_update_sys_path(pymain) < 0) {
         return -1;
     }
     return 0;
@@ -1962,13 +2038,20 @@
         return 0;
     }
 
-    res = pymain_init_python(pymain);
+    res = pymain_init_python_core(pymain);
+    if (res < 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    res = pymain_init_python_main(pymain);
     if (res < 0) {
         return -1;
     }
 
     pymain_run_python(pymain);
 
+    pymain_free_python(pymain);
+
     if (Py_FinalizeEx() < 0) {
         /* Value unlikely to be confused with a non-error exit status or
            other special meaning */
diff --git a/PC/getpathp.c b/PC/getpathp.c
index e142e36..fe4ef1a 100644
--- a/PC/getpathp.c
+++ b/PC/getpathp.c
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@
 
 
 static _PyInitError
-get_program_full_path(const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config,
+get_program_full_path(const _PyCoreConfig *core_config,
                       PyCalculatePath *calculate, _PyPathConfig *config)
 {
     wchar_t program_full_path[MAXPATHLEN+1];
@@ -514,13 +514,13 @@
      * $PATH isn't exported, you lose.
      */
 #ifdef ALTSEP
-    if (wcschr(main_config->program_name, SEP) ||
-        wcschr(main_config->program_name, ALTSEP))
+    if (wcschr(core_config->program_name, SEP) ||
+        wcschr(core_config->program_name, ALTSEP))
 #else
-    if (wcschr(main_config->program_name, SEP))
+    if (wcschr(core_config->program_name, SEP))
 #endif
     {
-        wcsncpy(program_full_path, main_config->program_name, MAXPATHLEN);
+        wcsncpy(program_full_path, core_config->program_name, MAXPATHLEN);
     }
     else if (calculate->path_env) {
         const wchar_t *path = calculate->path_env;
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@
             }
 
             /* join() is safe for MAXPATHLEN+1 size buffer */
-            join(program_full_path, main_config->program_name);
+            join(program_full_path, core_config->program_name);
             if (exists(program_full_path)) {
                 break;
             }
@@ -707,9 +707,9 @@
 
 static void
 calculate_init(PyCalculatePath *calculate,
-               const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config)
+               const _PyCoreConfig *core_config)
 {
-    calculate->home = main_config->home;
+    calculate->home = core_config->home;
     calculate->path_env = _wgetenv(L"PATH");
 }
 
@@ -813,7 +813,7 @@
 
 
 static _PyInitError
-calculate_module_search_path(const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config,
+calculate_module_search_path(const _PyCoreConfig *core_config,
                              PyCalculatePath *calculate, _PyPathConfig *config,
                              wchar_t *prefix)
 {
@@ -824,7 +824,7 @@
 #endif
     /* We only use the default relative PYTHONPATH if we haven't
        anything better to use! */
-    int skipdefault = (main_config->module_search_path_env != NULL ||
+    int skipdefault = (core_config->module_search_path_env != NULL ||
                        calculate->home != NULL ||
                        calculate->machine_path != NULL ||
                        calculate->user_path != NULL);
@@ -863,8 +863,8 @@
         bufsz += wcslen(calculate->machine_path) + 1;
     }
     bufsz += wcslen(calculate->zip_path) + 1;
-    if (main_config->module_search_path_env != NULL) {
-        bufsz += wcslen(main_config->module_search_path_env) + 1;
+    if (core_config->module_search_path_env != NULL) {
+        bufsz += wcslen(core_config->module_search_path_env) + 1;
     }
 
     wchar_t *buf, *start_buf;
@@ -872,9 +872,9 @@
     if (buf == NULL) {
         /* We can't exit, so print a warning and limp along */
         fprintf(stderr, "Can't malloc dynamic PYTHONPATH.\n");
-        if (main_config->module_search_path_env) {
+        if (core_config->module_search_path_env) {
             fprintf(stderr, "Using environment $PYTHONPATH.\n");
-            config->module_search_path = main_config->module_search_path_env;
+            config->module_search_path = core_config->module_search_path_env;
         }
         else {
             fprintf(stderr, "Using default static path.\n");
@@ -884,9 +884,9 @@
     }
     start_buf = buf;
 
-    if (main_config->module_search_path_env) {
+    if (core_config->module_search_path_env) {
         if (wcscpy_s(buf, bufsz - (buf - start_buf),
-                     main_config->module_search_path_env)) {
+                     core_config->module_search_path_env)) {
             return INIT_ERR_BUFFER_OVERFLOW();
         }
         buf = wcschr(buf, L'\0');
@@ -999,7 +999,7 @@
 
 
 static _PyInitError
-calculate_path_impl(const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config,
+calculate_path_impl(const _PyCoreConfig *core_config,
                     PyCalculatePath *calculate, _PyPathConfig *config)
 {
     _PyInitError err;
@@ -1009,7 +1009,7 @@
         return err;
     }
 
-    err = get_program_full_path(main_config, calculate, config);
+    err = get_program_full_path(core_config, calculate, config);
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
         return err;
     }
@@ -1035,7 +1035,7 @@
 
     calculate_home_prefix(calculate, prefix);
 
-    err = calculate_module_search_path(main_config, calculate, config, prefix);
+    err = calculate_module_search_path(core_config, calculate, config, prefix);
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
         return err;
     }
@@ -1059,15 +1059,14 @@
 
 
 _PyInitError
-_PyPathConfig_Calculate(_PyPathConfig *config,
-                        const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config)
+_PyPathConfig_Calculate(_PyPathConfig *config, const _PyCoreConfig *core_config)
 {
     PyCalculatePath calculate;
     memset(&calculate, 0, sizeof(calculate));
 
-    calculate_init(&calculate, main_config);
+    calculate_init(&calculate, core_config);
 
-    _PyInitError err = calculate_path_impl(main_config, &calculate, config);
+    _PyInitError err = calculate_path_impl(core_config, &calculate, config);
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
         goto done;
     }
diff --git a/Python/pathconfig.c b/Python/pathconfig.c
index b17ae82..748084b 100644
--- a/Python/pathconfig.c
+++ b/Python/pathconfig.c
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 /* Initialize paths for Py_GetPath(), Py_GetPrefix(), Py_GetExecPrefix()
    and Py_GetProgramFullPath() */
 _PyInitError
-_PyPathConfig_Init(const _PyMainInterpreterConfig *main_config)
+_PyPathConfig_Init(const _PyCoreConfig *core_config)
 {
     if (_Py_path_config.module_search_path) {
         /* Already initialized */
@@ -61,15 +61,15 @@
 
     /* Calculate program_full_path, prefix, exec_prefix (Unix)
        or dll_path (Windows), and module_search_path */
-    err = _PyPathConfig_Calculate(&new_config, main_config);
+    err = _PyPathConfig_Calculate(&new_config, core_config);
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
         _PyPathConfig_Clear(&new_config);
         goto done;
     }
 
-    /* Copy home and program_name from main_config */
-    if (main_config->home != NULL) {
-        new_config.home = _PyMem_RawWcsdup(main_config->home);
+    /* Copy home and program_name from core_config */
+    if (core_config->home != NULL) {
+        new_config.home = _PyMem_RawWcsdup(core_config->home);
         if (new_config.home == NULL) {
             err = _Py_INIT_NO_MEMORY();
             goto done;
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
         new_config.home = NULL;
     }
 
-    new_config.program_name = _PyMem_RawWcsdup(main_config->program_name);
+    new_config.program_name = _PyMem_RawWcsdup(core_config->program_name);
     if (new_config.program_name == NULL) {
         err = _Py_INIT_NO_MEMORY();
         goto done;
@@ -105,14 +105,14 @@
     }
 
     _PyInitError err;
-    _PyMainInterpreterConfig config = _PyMainInterpreterConfig_INIT;
+    _PyCoreConfig config = _PyCoreConfig_INIT;
 
-    err = _PyMainInterpreterConfig_ReadEnv(&config);
+    err = _PyCoreConfig_ReadEnv(&config);
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
         goto error;
     }
 
-    err = _PyMainInterpreterConfig_Read(&config);
+    err = _PyCoreConfig_Read(&config);
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
         goto error;
     }
@@ -122,11 +122,11 @@
         goto error;
     }
 
-    _PyMainInterpreterConfig_Clear(&config);
+    _PyCoreConfig_Clear(&config);
     return;
 
 error:
-    _PyMainInterpreterConfig_Clear(&config);
+    _PyCoreConfig_Clear(&config);
     _Py_FatalInitError(err);
 }
 
diff --git a/Python/pylifecycle.c b/Python/pylifecycle.c
index 2bac23d..31965f5 100644
--- a/Python/pylifecycle.c
+++ b/Python/pylifecycle.c
@@ -792,13 +792,8 @@
  */
 
 _PyInitError
-_PyMainInterpreterConfig_Read(_PyMainInterpreterConfig *config)
+_PyCoreConfig_Read(_PyCoreConfig *config)
 {
-    /* Signal handlers are installed by default */
-    if (config->install_signal_handlers < 0) {
-        config->install_signal_handlers = 1;
-    }
-
     if (config->program_name == NULL) {
 #ifdef MS_WINDOWS
         const wchar_t *program_name = L"python";
@@ -814,9 +809,8 @@
     return _Py_INIT_OK();
 }
 
-
 void
-_PyMainInterpreterConfig_Clear(_PyMainInterpreterConfig *config)
+_PyCoreConfig_Clear(_PyCoreConfig *config)
 {
 #define CLEAR(ATTR) \
     do { \
@@ -831,6 +825,14 @@
 }
 
 
+void
+_PyMainInterpreterConfig_Clear(_PyMainInterpreterConfig *config)
+{
+    Py_CLEAR(config->argv);
+    Py_CLEAR(config->module_search_path);
+}
+
+
 /* Update interpreter state based on supplied configuration settings
  *
  * After calling this function, most of the restrictions on the interpreter
@@ -881,16 +883,11 @@
         return _Py_INIT_ERR("can't initialize time");
     }
 
-    /* GetPath may initialize state that _PySys_EndInit locks
-       in, and so has to be called first. */
-    err = _PyPathConfig_Init(&interp->config);
-    if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
-        return err;
+    assert(interp->config.module_search_path != NULL);
+    if (PySys_SetObject("path", interp->config.module_search_path) != 0) {
+        return _Py_INIT_ERR("can't assign sys.path");
     }
-    wchar_t *sys_path = Py_GetPath();
 
-    /* Finish setting up the sys module and import system */
-    PySys_SetPath(sys_path);
     if (_PySys_EndInit(interp->sysdict) < 0)
         return _Py_INIT_ERR("can't finish initializing sys");
 
@@ -949,6 +946,12 @@
         }
     }
 
+    if (interp->config.argv != NULL) {
+        if (PySys_SetObject("argv", interp->config.argv) != 0) {
+            return _Py_INIT_ERR("can't assign sys.argv");
+        }
+    }
+
     return _Py_INIT_OK();
 }
 
@@ -970,12 +973,12 @@
         goto done;
     }
 
-    err = _PyMainInterpreterConfig_ReadEnv(&config);
+    err = _PyCoreConfig_ReadEnv(&core_config);
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
         goto done;
     }
 
-    err = _PyMainInterpreterConfig_Read(&config);
+    err = _PyMainInterpreterConfig_Read(&config, &core_config);
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
         goto done;
     }
@@ -988,6 +991,7 @@
     err = _Py_INIT_OK();
 
 done:
+    _PyCoreConfig_Clear(&core_config);
     _PyMainInterpreterConfig_Clear(&config);
     return err;
 }
@@ -1342,7 +1346,7 @@
         interp->config = main_interp->config;
     }
 
-    err = _PyPathConfig_Init(&interp->config);
+    err = _PyPathConfig_Init(&interp->core_config);
     if (_Py_INIT_FAILED(err)) {
         return err;
     }