Python threading vs. process for creating a timer function

Question

I would like to run a definition in the background, and pass an argument into it (how long it should run for), but the following code isn't working:

thread = threading.Thread(target= run_timer, args=timer_time_value) #  Where timer_time_value is taken from user input, and converted into an integer.
thread.daemon = True
thread.start()

def run_timer(time_to_sleep_For):
    time_to_sleep_For = int(time_to_sleep_For)
    time.sleep(time_to_sleep_For)
    Speak("Timer done!")

If I use process, I replace the first chunk of code with:

p = Process(target= run_timer, args=timer_time_value)
p.start()
p.join()

However, both return:

TypeError: 'int' object is not iterable

My question is, which module should I use, and what is the correct way to set it up?

args expects an iterable. Pass as args=(timer_time_value,) i.e. a tuple with 1 item in it — roganjosh
– roganjosh, Commented Sep 18, 2017 at 18:31

Reto Aebersold · Accepted Answer · 2017-09-18 18:49:35Z

3

As @roganjosh pointed out you need to pass a list or a tuple (see Thread). This is working example:

import threading    
import time

def run_timer(time_to_sleep_for):
  time.sleep(time_to_sleep_for)
  print("Timer done!")


user_time = "3"

try:
  user_time = int(user_time)
except ValueError:
  user_time = 0  # default sleep

thread = threading.Thread(target=run_timer,
                          args=(user_time,))
thread.daemon = True
thread.start()
thread.join()

For the differences between processes and threads see this answers.

BTW: It is maybe better to parse the user input outside the thread as shown in the example.

edited Sep 18, 2017 at 18:49

answered Sep 18, 2017 at 18:43

Reto Aebersold

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1 Comment

Reto Aebersold Over a year ago

@roganjosh: Thanks for your initial comment. Glad I could help.

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