Stop one Python script that is running within another

Question

I have a Python app that initiates from a main script, let's say a main.py. main.py (since my app is organized) references and imports other .py files within the same directory, that house other functions. As my app is continuously running, it imports such a function from another script, which is also supposed to run forever until it is explicitly cancelled.

Thing is, how would I cancel that specific script, while leaving its affected variables untouched and the main script/larger app still running?

I do not how I would go about targeting a specific function to stop its execution.

if im understanding this correctly, you could have a custom exception class within that script that, when called, will stop that script from running, but wont effect the main loop. ill post an example if this sounds like what you're looking for — Brandon Bailey
– Brandon Bailey, Commented Feb 14, 2019 at 12:03
While I am reading gautamaggarwal's suggestion, stopping the particular function I want through some custom exception that is called from another function, would be ideal indeed. I would greatly appreciate such an example. — Coolio2654
– Coolio2654, Commented Feb 14, 2019 at 12:23

BoboDarph · Accepted Answer · 2019-02-14 13:03:25Z

1

I use a kill function in my utils to kill any unneeded python process who's name I know. Note the following code was tested/works on Ubuntu Linux and Mac OS machines.

def get_running_pids(process_name):
    pids = []
    p = subprocess.Popen(['ps', '-A'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
    out, err = p.communicate()
    for line in out.splitlines():
        if process_name in line.decode('utf-8'):
            pid = int(line.decode('utf-8').split(None, 1)[0])
            pids.append(pid)
    return pids

def kill_process_with_name(process_name):
        pids = get_running_pids(process_name)
        for pid in pids:
            os.kill(pid, signal.SIGKILL)

answered Feb 14, 2019 at 13:03

BoboDarph

2,9111 gold badge12 silver badges15 bronze badges

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

2 Comments

Coolio2654 Over a year ago

For the process_name, is this the name of the function that is continuously running, or something else?

BoboDarph Over a year ago

I usually start the script I want to kill in a different process from the controlling script.

Brandon Bailey · Accepted Answer · 2020-02-05 23:55:04Z

1

You Could set up user defined, custom, Exceptions. Extending Pythons builtin Exception object. Further reading here : Pythons User Defined Exceptions

CustomExceptions.py:

class HaltException(Exception):
    pass

-

main.py:

from CustomExceptions import HaltException

class Functions():

    def a(self):
       print("hey")
       self.b()
       return "1"
def b(self):
    print("hello")
    raise HaltException()

def main():

    func_obj = Functions()

    try: 
        func_obj.a()
    except HaltException as e:
        pass
    print("Awesome")

main()

Programs may name their own exceptions by creating a new exception class (see Classes for more about Python classes). Exceptions should typically be derived from the Exception class, either directly or indirectly.

edited Feb 5, 2020 at 23:55

answered Feb 15, 2019 at 10:30

Brandon Bailey

8317 silver badges12 bronze badges

2 Comments

Coolio2654 Over a year ago

This seems like what I would want to do, being able to cancel the script within standard Python, but the logic of this answer confuses me a bit. How is this working?

Brandon Bailey Over a year ago

hey, check out the docs here on user defined exceptions : docs.python.org/3/tutorial/errors.html#user-defined-exceptions can probably explain it better than i

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Stop one Python script that is running within another

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

2 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related