Python Repeat an algorithm exactly every 5th minute of the hour

Question

I need to write a Python code in order to repeat a trading algorithm exactly every fith minute of the hour. All the solutions that I tried as for example Sleep() will sum machine time, and this is not what I want.

I need to preserve state between calls, ... I want the algorithm to run exactly every 5 minutes (for example 14:00; 14:05; 14:10; 14:15......). The algorithm (retriving the data and cruncing the numbers) itself takes approximatly 12 seconds to be executed. If the computer is suspended I will skip the iteration.

related: [What is the best way to repeatedly execute a function every x seconds in Python?](http://stackoverflow.com/a/25251804/4279) — jfs, Mar 02 '16 at 20:36

mvelay · Answer 1 · 2016-03-03T08:30:58.757

4

EDIT

According to your comment: "I want the algorithm to run exactly every 5 minutes (for example 14:00; 14:05; 14:10; 14:15......)."

using datetime and infinite loop:

import time
import datetime

while True:
    if datetime.datetime.now().minute % 5 == 0: 
        #do algorithm
    time.sleep(60)

edited Mar 03 '16 at 08:30

answered Mar 01 '16 at 12:10

mvelay

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This solution is working but there's still a problem, the algorithm will loop during the whole duration of the fifth minute, is there a way to execute it only once? – Diego Di Tommaso Mar 02 '16 at 14:28
Another thing, is there a way to stop the loop without closing the consolle? – Diego Di Tommaso Mar 02 '16 at 14:31
To avoid your first issue I have added a `time.sleep(60)` in every case – mvelay Mar 02 '16 at 15:41
To stop the execution just press 'CTRL + C' in your terminal – mvelay Mar 02 '16 at 15:54

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 03 '16 at 13:02

2

import time

while True:
    time.sleep(300 - time.time() % 300)
    crunch_numbers()

crunch_numbers() is called on 5 minute boundaries defined by time.time() clock.

answered Mar 03 '16 at 13:02

jfs

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meltdown90 · Answer 3 · 2016-03-03T10:22:30.803

1

You could use a cron job for that if you work in a linux environment. Open the cron tab by

crontab -e

The following will start a python script cronjob.py every 5th minute of an hour:

5 * * * * python /path/to/script/cronjob.py

edit: since op specified "want the algorithm to run exactly every 5 minutes":

*/5 * * * * python /path/to/script/cronjob.py

edited Mar 03 '16 at 10:22

answered Mar 01 '16 at 12:13

meltdown90

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This could work but I have some variables that I need to store in the code and that I guess would get back to initiation state if I use this solution – Diego Di Tommaso Mar 02 '16 at 14:26
@DiegoDiTommaso: put this information (that you need "to preserve state between calls") into your question. Mention what do you want to happen if an iteration takes longer than 5 minutes (do you want to skip the next iteration or run two iterations concurrently?). What do you want to happen if the computer time jumps (forward/backwards), if is the computer is suspended -- do you want to skip the corresponding iterations? – jfs Mar 02 '16 at 20:41
it's not "every five minute" but "every 5th minute of the hour". – mvelay Mar 02 '16 at 21:32
Yes, I need to preserve state between calls, I'm sorry I was not clear in my first message, what I meant is that I want the algorithm to run exactly every 5 minutes (for example 14:00; 14:05; 14:10; 14:15......). The algorithm (retriving the data and cruncing the numbers) itself takes approximatly 12 seconds to be executed. If the computer is suspended I will skip the iteration. Thanks! – Diego Di Tommaso Mar 03 '16 at 08:08

Python Repeat an algorithm exactly every 5th minute of the hour

3 Answers3