Is it possible to cancel an exec() in python after 5 seconds

Question

I am working on a python script that runs small user generated scripts. There is a problem though when a user submits a script that infinitely loops. I was wondering if it would be possible to stop an exec() after 5 seconds of running.

x = exec(user_code)
 delay(5)
 x.cancel()

something like this ^

So far I tried using threading but the results were mixed. I threaded a function called main which would run their code through exec then I would delete the thread after 5 seconds but it was buggy.

You might be able to do something with multiple threads, where the second thread kills the first one. — Barmar, Oct 25 '22 at 18:20
Or possibly https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2281850/timeout-function-if-it-takes-too-long-to-finish — larsks, Oct 25 '22 at 18:21
@larsks I checked out that article but it does not focus on the python exec() function — Mork Shmork, Oct 25 '22 at 18:22

score -1 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 25 '22 at 18:23

-1

You could use multiprocessing:

import multiprocessing
import time

def exec(n):
    for i in range(10000 * n):
        print("Whatever") #Your code

if __name__ == '__main__':
    process = multiprocessing.Process(target=exec, name="Exec", args=(10,))
    process.start()
    time.sleep(1) #How much to wait
    process.terminate()
    process.join()

answered Oct 25 '22 at 18:23

Matei Piele

572
2
15

this is probably a reasonable solution, but don't name the function `exec`, that shadows the built-in `exec` (btw, I did not downvote) – juanpa.arrivillaga Oct 25 '22 at 18:38

Is it possible to cancel an exec() in python after 5 seconds

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