Memory management with the libxml2 Python bindings

At work, we have been struggling with the rather unpythonic libxml2 Python bindings. Although libxml2 is extremely fast, supports an ever growing list of specifications and is wonderfully compliant, the Python bindings require you to do your own memory management.

Because this is not something Python programmers are used to, Manfred has written an article explaining how to get memory management right when using the libxml2 Python bindings.

Update: Also read the follow-up article, libxml is not Pythonic.