creates a LogRecord entry that retains a reference to the input arguments. In the case of a step running where the input is a DataModel this means the LogRecord will prevent the DataModel from being garbage collected.
As all LogRecords are assigned to Step._log_records this links the records to the Step instance so that all logs persist until the step is garbage collected.
From some debugging with @tapastro we found that: https://github.com/spacetelescope/stpipe/blob/9952c365458fc3f01839a912b62ab6c637dc9179/src/stpipe/step.py#L429
creates a
LogRecordentry that retains a reference to the input arguments. In the case of a step running where the input is aDataModelthis means theLogRecordwill prevent theDataModelfrom being garbage collected.As all
LogRecords are assigned toStep._log_recordsthis links the records to theStepinstance so that all logs persist until the step is garbage collected.