Run python script only if it's not running

Question

I want to launch a python script from another python script. I know how to do it. But I should launch this script only if it is not running already.

code:

import os
os.system("new_script.py")

But I'm not sure how to check if this script is already running or not.

unix.stackexchange.com/questions/110698/… might be of help — Jeremy
– Jeremy, Commented Jun 22, 2016 at 12:40
Something simple like pgrep -f 'new_script.py'|| ./new_script.py or you have to use a lockfile with the PID. — Klaus D.
– Klaus D., Commented Jun 22, 2016 at 12:41

talhasch · Accepted Answer · 2016-06-22 12:43:49Z

7

Try this:

import subprocess
import os 

p = subprocess.Popen(['pgrep', '-f', 'your_script.py'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
out, err = p.communicate()

if len(out.strip()) == 0:
    os.system("new_script.py")

answered Jun 22, 2016 at 12:43

talhasch

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NST · Accepted Answer · 2017-06-06 19:22:06Z

3

Came across this old question looking for solution myself.

Use psutil:

import psutil
import sys
from subprocess import Popen

for process in psutil.process_iter():
    if process.cmdline() == ['python', 'your_script.py']:
        sys.exit('Process found: exiting.')

print('Process not found: starting it.')
Popen(['python', 'your_script.py'])

You can also use start time of the previous process to determine if it's running too long and might be hung:

process.create_time()

There is tons of other useful metadata of the process.

edited Jun 6, 2017 at 19:22

answered Jun 6, 2017 at 18:17

NST

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