python timer for stopping a function

Question

I want to build a function that will stop another function after a set time.

For example:

def start():
    global bol_start
    bol_start = True
    timer()
    if bol_start is True:
       "do something until time is over"

def stop():
    global bol_start
    bol_start = False
    sys.exit(0)    

def timer():
    "code for actual timer" ?

I would like to let the user define the time x how long the tool should run start(). After the time is over it should call stop().

Does this answer your question? [Timeout on a function call](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/492519/timeout-on-a-function-call) — Maurice Meyer, Oct 07 '20 at 08:54
Hmmm anyway in this example too, you will have to say `global bol_start` in `stop()`, i recommend showing a better example though — Delrius Euphoria, Oct 07 '20 at 08:56

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 07 '20 at 09:42

If you have a loop in the function, that runs continuously, the simplest mechanic would be to measure time every iteration:

import time

def run():
    start = time.time()
    stop_seconds = 10
    while time.time() - start < stop_seconds:
        # do something

If you don't have a loop or the function consists of time consuming operations, you would need to kill the function in the middle of execution like suggested here: Timeout on a function call

python timer for stopping a function

1 Answers1