Here's some code I used once (lifted off some page on the web which is now in the hands of a domain squatter, so no credit where credit is due, sadly):
import signal
class TimeoutException(Exception):
pass
def timeout(timeout_time, default = None):
def timeout_function(f):
def f2(*args, **kwargs):
def timeout_handler(signum, frame):
raise TimeoutException()
old_handler = signal.signal(signal.SIGALRM, timeout_handler)
signal.alarm(timeout_time) # triger alarm in timeout_time seconds
try:
retval = f(*args, **kwargs)
except TimeoutException, e:
if default == None:
raise e
return default
finally:
signal.signal(signal.SIGALRM, old_handler)
signal.alarm(0)
return retval
return f2
return timeout_function
# use like this:
@timeout(45)
def run():
test = raw_input("How much is 62x5-23? ")
if test == '287':
print "Well done!"
# alternatively, pass a value that will be returned when the timeout is reached:
@timeout(45, False)
def run2():
test = raw_input("How much is 62x5-23? ")
if test == '287':
print "Well done!"
if __name__ == '__main__':
try:
run()
except TimeoutException:
print "\nSorry, you took too long."
# alternative call:
if run2() == False:
print "\nSorry, you took too long."
EDIT: probably works on Unix-type OS'es only.