Python 3.8: Fixed Timeout Limit

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Did you know that as of June 27th, 2023, Python 3.8 has become the oldest supported version of Python? That’s right it’s now in its ‘security support’ phase, which means it will continue to receive critical security updates for at least another year or two.

But that’s not all! In addition to improved error messages and other changes, Python 3.8 also comes equipped with a built-in timeout feature that allows you to set specific time limits for any given task. This is especially useful when dealing with long-running scripts or processes that might otherwise hang around forever.

To implement this new feature using the built-in `time` module, simply import it into your script and follow these steps:

1. Define a function to perform some task (e.g., my_function).
2. Set up a timeout limit in seconds (e.g., 10 for our example).
3. Use the built-in `time` module to calculate the elapsed time and check if it exceeds your threshold. If so, raise a TimeoutError exception.

Here’s an example code snippet:

# Import the built-in `time` module to use its functions.
import time

# Define a function to perform some task (e.g., my_function).
def my_function():
    # Perform some task here...
    while True:
        # Do something repeatedly until the timeout is reached.
        pass
    
    # This line will never be executed if the function times out!
    print("This won't happen unless we have a time machine.")

# Set up a timeout limit in seconds (10 for our example).
timeout = 10

try:
    # Get the current time before calling the function.
    start_time = time.time()
    # Call the function.
    my_function()
finally:
    # Get the current time after the function has finished.
    end_time = time.time()
    # Calculate the elapsed time by subtracting the start time from the end time.
    total_time = round(end_time - start_time, 2)
    
    # If the elapsed time exceeds the timeout limit, raise a TimeoutError exception.
    if total_time > timeout:
        raise TimeoutError("Function timed out after {} seconds.".format(timeout))

And that’s it! With this code in place, you can now run your Python scripts with the confidence of knowing they won’t hang around forever. Of course, there are many other ways to implement timeouts using external libraries or third-party tools, but for those who prefer a more straightforward approach, Python 3.8 has got us covered!

So give it a try your future self will thank you for being so considerate of their precious time.

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