Wait for specific lengths of time in Python with ease
Python is a popular and powerful high-level programming language used by developers worldwide. Its rich set of libraries and simplicity fosters the quick and efficient implementation of tasks, especially when it comes to waiting for specific time intervals.
Using time.sleep() to wait
One of the most straightforward ways for waiting for a specified amount of time is through using the time.sleep() method.
This method suspends the execution of the current thread by the requested duration in seconds. A simple example illustrates its working:
import time
print("Start...")
time.sleep(5) # wait for 5 seconds
print("Stop!")
The print() function statements shall respectively output Start and Stop! with a 5-second delay between them. Note that the time.sleep() call blocks the current thread and the execution of other code during the waiting period.
Waiting in a Multi-Threaded Environment
In a multi-threaded environment, waiting for a specified time may be more complex than using time.sleep(). One technique you can use requires the concurrent.futures module, which enables the scheduling of multiple threads execution in parallel.
The ThreadPoolExecutor class provides valuable context managers that operate with a fixed number of threads. One of those techniques is to use the as_completed() method that returns an iterator yielding immediately after a thread execution completes.
import concurrent.futures
import time
def wait_seconds(n):
time.sleep(n)
return n
if __name__ == '__main__':
with concurrent.futures.ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=3) as executor:
futures = [executor.submit(wait_seconds, i) for i in range(5)]
for f in concurrent.futures.as_completed(futures):
print(f.result())
The example above employs the futures list, which stores the execution of five threads, each waiting for a specific number of seconds. The with statement creates a context in which the ThreadPoolExecutor executes with up to three threads concurrently.
When the as_completed() generator yields a completed future, its result is obtained and printed.
Using threading.Timer() to schedule function calls
The threading.Timer() method allows scheduling a function call after a specific interval, easy to use in a single-threaded environment.
Here is how you can schedule the function to be run after a specified waiting duration:
import threading
def delayed_call():
print("Delayed call.")
t = threading.Timer(5.0, delayed_call)
t.start()
The example above uses the Timer method to define a timer object, passing in the number of seconds to wait before calling the critical function. Finally, it invokes the start() method to begin the countdown.
The Timer method replaces the old time method that was commonly used as a method of waiting for a specific duration before calling a particular function. In conclusion, Python provides a set of tools that developers can use to wait for a specified duration in a simple and efficient way.
Waiting in a Multi-Threaded Environment
Python incorporates multi-threading capabilities that enable users to execute their code simultaneously, yielding improvements in performance and responsiveness.
Although running threads in parallel seems ideal, it may also lead to issues such as race conditions or deadlock. When waiting for specific time periods in a multi-threaded environment, using time.sleep() might only block the current thread, and not the other running threads.
In such cases, the concurrent.futures modules ThreadPoolExecutor class is particularly useful. Its map() method applies the given function to each argument in iterable concurrently, returning the results in order as they complete.
However, it blocks the current thread until all the results are ready to be returned.
Let’s take a look at an example:
import concurrent.futures
import time
def wait_seconds(n):
print("Waiting for {} seconds...".format(n))
time.sleep(n)
return "Done waiting for {} seconds...".format(n)
if __name__ == '__main__':
start = time.perf_counter()
with concurrent.futures.ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=3) as executor:
args = [5, 3, 1]
results = list(executor.map(wait_seconds, args))
print('n'.join(results))
end = time.perf_counter()
print(f"Finished in {end-start:0.2f} second(s).")
The above code example defines the wait_seconds() function, which merely waits for a specified duration to be complete before returning a message. Next, it sets up a ThreadPoolExecutor that can work with a maximum of three threads concurrently.
We then provide the list of time intervals in seconds as arguments to wait_seconds(). Using the executor.map() method, the preceding function is applied concurrently to the arguments in the given list.
Finally, the printed output of the concatenated function results summarizes the available text to return, with the finished time printed at the end.
Using threading.Timer()
The threading.Timer() method is an alternative to the time.sleep() method.
It schedules a function call to occur after a specified interval. A Timer is a Thread subclass that executes a function after a specified time interval has elapsed.
import threading
def delayed_call():
print("Delayed call.")
t = threading.Timer(5.0, delayed_call)
t.start()
In the preceding implementation, we define a function called delayed_call() that prints “Delayed call.” Once we define the Timer object, we pass in the number of seconds to wait before calling the function using threading.Timer(5.0, delayed_call), and start the timer using its start() method. The Timer object is a non-blocking one, allowing other concurrent threads to run while the timer runs in the background.
The threading.Timer() method uses a separate thread to execute the given function, which means that even though the main thread is blocked, other threads continue to run. It is an ideal solution for events that need to occur after a fixed duration without blocking other threads or tasks.
Conclusion
Python provides some incredible features for waiting for a specific duration, whether working with single- or multi-threaded environments. The time.sleep() method is the most straightforward way to wait for a given time interval in Python but isn’t efficient in multi-threaded environments.
To work in such scenarios, use the concurrent.futures module’s ThreadPoolExecutor function for executing multiple tasks concurrently, yielding a more responsive and efficient application. Additionally, the threading.Timer() method enables users to schedule function calls that occur after a given duration, running the associated task in a separate thread and freeing up the primary thread to handle other tasks.
In conclusion, when it comes to waiting for specific time intervals in Python, developers have multiple options available depending on their programming environment’s requirements.
We began by exploring the time.sleep() method, a simple yet effective way to pause a program’s execution for a given duration, especially when dealing with single-threaded applications.
Its limitations in a concurrent environment make it unsuitable when working with multi-threaded applications where other threads need to remain active during the wait period. In multi-threaded environments, it is better to use the concurrent.futures module’s ThreadPoolExecutor to schedule the execution of tasks concurrently, allowing other threads to continue with the execution of other tasks.
The module’s map() method offers an easy way to call a function concurrently with a list of arguments. When a function returns, the result is immediately available for further processing.
We then ventured into using threading.Timer(), a more flexible way of waiting for time intervals, especially in single-threaded environments. By setting up a timer object with a specified number of seconds to wait before executing a function, we can continue running other tasks without being blocked by the time delay.
It is essential to note that when deciding which wait method to use, developers should consider the specifics of the application and the resources available. In summary, the best option often depends on the task at hand and whether the environment is single-threaded or multi-threaded.
In conclusion, Python’s rich set of libraries and intuitive syntax provides developers with powerful tools for waiting for specific durations, allowing them to write efficient and responsive code. The time.sleep() method and the ThreadPoolExecutor and Timer classes provide developers multiple techniques to effectively schedule the execution of specific tasks.
When dealing with multiple threads and simultaneous task executions, developers must consider the significant impact these choices have on the application’s reliability, performance, and responsiveness. In conclusion, this article explored various methods Python developers can use to wait for specific periods during single and multi-threaded environments.
We looked at the time.sleep() method, which is simple but not efficient for concurrent environments, and how to utilize the ThreadPoolExecutor class to execute multiple tasks concurrently. Additionally, we investigated the threading.Timer() method for timing and scheduling events in single-threaded applications.
The importance of choosing the right wait method, such as considering the specifics of the application and available resources, was emphasized. Overall, the main takeaway is that developers must select the most appropriate method to reduce errors and increase the performance and responsiveness of their applications.