PHP setting max CPU utilization, OR, how to forfeit CPU timeslice

Question

I have an application written in PHP (Not website, an application), that has an infinite loop for its logic until the application shuts down. One issue with it that I've noticed is I get incredibly high CPU usage (Obviously), and I've tried using C++ methods I've done in the past to lower the CPU usage. Not many of them seem to work.

I've tried:

sleep(1);

and:

time_sleep_until(microtime(true)+0.2);

But neither seem to lower utilization.

Any tips?

sleep(1); usually does sort this problem out, although it is a horrible way to do it. A more important point is what does your application actually do? It's best to let your script stick on a blocking function call until it returns data (e.g. a socket read operation) if possible, can you show your code (or at least an outline of it)? — DaveRandom
– DaveRandom, Commented Jul 23, 2012 at 20:17
DaveRandom: My script is actually an IRC bot, that's a bit overblown... haha — Ryan Copley
– Ryan Copley, Commented Jul 23, 2012 at 20:24

aphodius · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-23 20:14:46Z

1

You can configure execution of your jobs when they are needed to be executed. So if this infinite script needs to do/check something every minute you can just do it when there is a change otherwise sleep.

Your problem can be on something else your script does other than itself. Here is an example hope it helps.

    set_time_limit(0);
    ignore_user_abort(true);
    $minutes = NULL;

    do {
        try {
            // Run jobs, only when the minute has changed
            $now = getdate();
            if ($now['minutes'] != $minutes) {
                $minutes = $now['minutes'];
            }       
        }
        catch (Exception $e) {
            // Catch here and handle
        }
        sleep(10);
    } while (TRUE);

answered Jul 23, 2012 at 20:14

aphodius

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9 Comments

Ryan Copley Over a year ago

YOU ARE AWESOME. This works 100% great! My process went from 100% CPU to an acceptable 1.9% CPU!! :D

user557846 Over a year ago

how is this different than a a cron job run every minute ?

Ryan Copley Over a year ago

I don't think people would enjoy an IRC bot connecting and disconnecting every minute... plus it's pointless if the bot just connects and them immediately disconnects!

user557846 Over a year ago

ok, next time explain what your doing when you ask the question.

user557846 Over a year ago

@RyanCopley well thanks for you lack of consideration for any one else searching S.O for a similar issue.

|

Matt S · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-23 20:05:37Z

0

As far as I know there is no way to do this within the PHP application, but when launching the process you can pass it to a command-line utility called cpulimit. Another option is to change the nice level of the program so at least when it is busy it won't hold up other more important processes.

answered Jul 23, 2012 at 20:05

Matt S

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