PyTypeObject *type;
DotStarObject *self = NULL;
(...)
// Allocate space for LED data:
    if((!n_pixels) || ((pixels = (uint8_t *)malloc(n_pixels * 4)))) {
        if((self = (DotStarObject *)type->tp_alloc(type, 0))) {
            self->numLEDs    = n_pixels;
            self->dataMask   = 0;
            self->clockMask  = 0;
            self->bitrate    = bitrate;
            self->fd         = -1;
            self->pixels     = pixels; // NULL if 0 pixels
            self->pBuf       = NULL;   // alloc'd on 1st use
            self->dataPin    = dPin;
            self->clockPin   = cPin;
            self->brightness = 0;
            self->rOffset    = rOffset;
            self->gOffset    = gOffset;
            self->bOffset    = bOffset;
            Py_INCREF(self);
        } else if(pixels) {
            free(pixels);
        }
    }

DotStarObject *self = (DotStarObject*)malloc(sizeof(DotStarObject));
(...)
if((!n_pixels) || ((pixels = (uint8_t *)malloc(n_pixels * 4)))) {
            self->numLEDs    = n_pixels;
            self->dataMask   = 0;
            self->clockMask  = 0;
            self->bitrate    = bitrate;
            self->fd         = -1;
            self->pixels     = pixels; // NULL if 0 pixels
            self->pBuf       = NULL;   // alloc'd on 1st use
            self->dataPin    = dPin;
            self->clockPin   = cPin;
            self->brightness = 0;
            self->rOffset    = rOffset;
            self->gOffset    = gOffset;
            self->bOffset    = bOffset;
    }