Creating threads from the same class but with different methods connected in Python

Question

Classes should be generic, right? I've got an example of multithreading using threading module, but it overrides the run method, so in fact this class can only create a thread connected to the print_time method. How can I make a thread of the same class, but connected to a different method, for example print_time_2?

#!/usr/bin/python

import threading
import time

exitFlag = 0

class myThread (threading.Thread):
    def __init__(self, threadID, name, counter):
        threading.Thread.__init__(self)
        self.threadID = threadID
        self.name = name
        self.counter = counter
    def run(self):
        print "Starting " + self.name
        print_time(self.name, self.counter, 5)
        print "Exiting " + self.name

def print_time(threadName, delay, counter):
    while counter:
        if exitFlag:
            thread.exit()
        time.sleep(delay)
        print "%s: %s" % (threadName, time.ctime(time.time()))
        counter -= 1

def print_time_2(threadName):
    while True:
        print "Its me, %s" % (threadName)

# Create new threads
thread1 = myThread(1, "Thread-1", 1)
thread2 = myThread(2, "Thread-2", 2) #how to connect this thread to print_time_2

# Start new Threads
thread1.start()
thread2.start()

print "Exiting Main Thread"

Classes should not be generic but concrete. Seriously, unless you define precisely what you mean with "generic", I can only assume the typical use of this word, and then it has its advantages and disadvantages. — Ulrich Eckhardt
– Ulrich Eckhardt, Commented May 31, 2015 at 9:50

Ulrich Eckhardt · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-31 09:47:13Z

1

Instead of creating your own thread class, you can import Thread class from threading module and then invoke it for functions (and specify arguments as necessary)

Example -

from threading import Thread

def print_time(threadName, delay, counter):
    while counter:
        if exitFlag:
            thread.exit()
        time.sleep(delay)
        print "%s: %s" % (threadName, time.ctime(time.time()))
        counter -= 1

def print_time_2(threadName):
    while True:
        print "Its me, %s" % (threadName)

t1 = Thread(target=print_time, args=(1, "Thread-1", 1) )
t2 = Thread(target=print_time_2, args=("Thread-2" , ) )

t1.start()
t2.start()

document for python threading class - https://docs.python.org/2/library/threading.html

And yes, if args only consists of one argument, you need the last ',' as given in the example.

edited May 31, 2015 at 9:47

Ulrich Eckhardt

17.7k5 gold badges31 silver badges63 bronze badges

answered May 31, 2015 at 9:40

Anand S Kumar

91.4k18 gold badges196 silver badges179 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Ulrich Eckhardt Over a year ago

Supporting deriving from the Thread class was a bad choice by Python in the first place, you don't derive from File in order to access a file either. Using this approach is a good advise!

Julien Palard · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-31 09:46:44Z

0

If you want to stick with classes (good idea):

Build two new classes, inheriting from myThread, having both their implementation of print_time function.

answered May 31, 2015 at 9:46

Julien Palard

12.1k3 gold badges42 silver badges48 bronze badges

2 Comments

Zwierzak Over a year ago

But it generates a lot of code. Isn't it better to use one class to create multiple threads?

Julien Palard Over a year ago

It does not generate more code than you wrote, only two new lines to put your to print functions in classes inheriting myThread.

Zwierzak · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-31 09:58:11Z

0

Well, I have found this kind of solution to my problem. Could u comment on it, if it's good or bad? It works ok for me though...

import threading
import time

class FuncThread(threading.Thread):
    def __init__(self, target, *args):
        self._target = target
        self._args = args
        threading.Thread.__init__(self)

    def run(self):
        self._target(*self._args)

# Example usage
def someOtherFunc(data, key):
    while True:
        print "Thread 1: data=%s; key=%s" % (str(data), str(key))
        time.sleep(1)

def someOtherFunc2():
    while True:
        print "Thread 2"
        time.sleep(0.2)

t1 = FuncThread(someOtherFunc, [1,2], 6)
t2 = FuncThread(someOtherFunc2)
t1.start()
t2.start()

answered May 31, 2015 at 9:58

Zwierzak

7061 gold badge13 silver badges31 bronze badges

1 Comment

Julien Palard Over a year ago

Still prefer my version but it clearly depend the context, divergence of implementations...

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Creating threads from the same class but with different methods connected in Python

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

2 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

2 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related