Implementing Timers in Python

Using UNIX Like Functionality

This script makes use of UNIX derived signal methods.

import signal, time

class TimedOutExc(Exception):
    def __init__(self, value = "Timed Out"):
        self.value = value
    def __str__(self):
        return repr(self.value)

def TimedOutFn(f, timeout, *args, **kwargs):
    def handler(signum, frame):
        raise TimedOutExc()
    
    old = signal.signal(signal.SIGALRM, handler)
    signal.alarm(timeout)
    try:
        result = f(*args, **kwargs)
    finally:
        signal.signal(signal.SIGALRM, old)
    signal.alarm(0)
    return result


def timed_out(timeout):
    def decorate(f):
        def handler(signum, frame):
            raise TimedOutExc()
        
        def new_f(*args, **kwargs):
            old = signal.signal(signal.SIGALRM, handler)
            signal.alarm(timeout)
            try:
                result = f(*args, **kwargs)
            finally:
                signal.signal(signal.SIGALRM, old)
            signal.alarm(0)
            return result
        
        new_f.func_name = f.func_name
        return new_f

    return decorate


def fn_1(secs):
    time.sleep(secs)
    return "Finished"

@timed_out(4)

Using pywin

#!/usr/bin/env python

try:
    import os
    import sys
    import time
    import msvcrt
    import winsound
except ImportError, error:
    sys.stdout.write('ImportError: %s' % error)
    sys.exit(1)

def main():
    try:
        alarm(*map(float, sys.argv[1:]))
    except:
        sys.stdout.write(os.path.basename(sys.argv[0]))
        sys.stdout.write(' <hours> <minutes> <seconds>')

def alarm(hours, minutes, seconds):
    time.sleep(abs(hours * 3600 + minutes * 60 + seconds))
    while msvcrt.kbhit():
        msvcrt.getch()
    while not msvcrt.kbhit():
        winsound.Beep(440, 250)
        time.sleep(0.25)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()