Run function every 5 minutes while running main program

Question

I want a function to run every 5 minutes while the main program is still running.

I've found multiple posts on how to make a function run every few seconds but they don't seem to work for me.

This is my program:

from Read import getUser, getMessage
from Socket import openSocket, sendMessage
from Initialize import joinRoom, Console
from question import query_yes_no
from Settings import AIDENT
import string
import sched, time
import urllib.parse
import requests
import subprocess
import sys
import os 

s = openSocket()
joinRoom(s)

while True:
    try:
        try:
            readbuffer = s.recv(1024)
            readbuffer = readbuffer.decode()
            temp = readbuffer.split("\n")
            readbuffer = readbuffer.encode()
            readbuffer = temp.pop()
        except:
            temp = ""

        for line in temp:
            if line == "":
                break
            if "PING" in line and Console(line):
                msgg = (("PONG tmi.twitch.tv\r\n").encode())
                print(msgg)
                s.send(msgg)
                break
            user = getUser(line)
            message = getMessage(line)
            print (user + " > " + message)
            PMSG = "/w " + user + " "

            if "!ping" in message:
                sendMessage(s, "PONG ( i'm working fine )")


    except:
        pass

I need to run sendMessage() function every 5 minutes without interrupting main program.

Is this part of a larger application? or the python script runs in its own context? — Chen A., Dec 03 '17 at 18:50
It's part of a larger application i can post the whole code if you want to @Vinny — Cyber_Star, Dec 03 '17 at 18:51
@cricket_007 if that means running a function while the other function is running aswel yes i think so — Cyber_Star, Dec 03 '17 at 18:51
@Cyber_Star It is not necessary to post full code. You have to use threading module with `time.sleep`. — Elis Byberi, Dec 03 '17 at 18:52
Possible duplicate of [Python: How can I run python functions in parallel?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7207309/python-how-can-i-run-python-functions-in-parallel) — OneCricketeer, Dec 03 '17 at 18:53
did you consider using threading.Timer? (https://docs.python.org/3/library/threading.html#timer-objects) — paho, Dec 03 '17 at 18:54

coder3521 · Accepted Answer · 2017-12-03T18:58:59.780

5

You have use threading in case , where your main method will keep on exeuting in separate thread and repeater function will execute after every nth sec sample code would be like this :

import threading

def printit():
  threading.Timer(5.0, printit).start()
  print "Hello, World!"

printit()

Give it a try by your self .

edited Dec 03 '17 at 18:58

answered Dec 03 '17 at 18:57

coder3521

2,608
1
28
50

and where should my main program be located in this situation? – Cyber_Star Dec 03 '17 at 18:58
the same normal way you execute , This printit function will execute every 5th sec – coder3521 Dec 03 '17 at 19:01

Chen A. · Answer 2 · 2017-12-03T19:00:25.493

2

You should be using threads. This will create a thread, which simply executes your code and sleeps for 5 min. Instead of running your function, run the last two commands to create the thread and start it.

import threading
import time

def pong():
    while True:
         sendMessage(s, "PONG ( i'm working fine )")
         time.sleep(300)

t = threading.Thread(target=pong, args=(,))
t.start()

edited Dec 03 '17 at 19:00

answered Dec 03 '17 at 18:55

Chen A.

10,140
3
42
61

Run function every 5 minutes while running main program

2 Answers2