Timer without threading in python?

Question

I am new to programming and would like to add a counter that deducts 1 from your score every two seconds. (so that I have to answer quickly to make my score increase)

chr
import random
import time
radians2 = None
ans = None
score = 0

radians1 = ['0', 'π/6', 'π/3', 'π/4', 'π/2', '2π/3', '3π/4', '5π/6', 'π', '7π/6', '4π/3', '5π/4', '3π/2', '5π/3', '7π/4', '11π/6', '2π']
while radians2 == ans or ans == None:

radians3 = (random.choice(radians1))
ans = input(radians3)
if radians3 == '0':
    radians2 = 0

elif radians3 == 'π/6':
    radians2 = 30

elif radians3 == 'π/3':
    radians2 = 60

elif radians3 == 'π/4':
    radians2 = 45

elif radians3 == 'π/2':
    radians2 = 90

elif radians3 == '2π/3':
    radians2 = 120

elif radians3 == '3π/4':
    radians2 = 135

elif radians3 == '5π/6':
    radians2 = 150

elif radians3 == 'π':
    radians2 = 180

elif radians3 == '7π/6':
    radians2 = 210

elif radians3 == '4π/3':
    radians2 = 240

elif radians3 == '5π/4':
    radians2 = 225

elif radians3 == '3π/2':
    radians2 = 270

elif radians3 == '5π/3':
    radians2 = 300

elif radians3 == '7π/4':
    radians2 = 315

elif radians3 == '11π/6':
    radians2 = 330

elif radians3 == '2π':
    radians2 = 360
score = score + 1

if radians2 == ans:
    print('Correct!')
    print "You've got %d in a row" % score
print "You lose, the correct answer was %d" % radians2

Sorry if the code is messy/long I figured out that I want to basically run something like:

while 1:
     time.sleep(2)
     score = score - 1

The only problem is that won't run simultaneously with the rest of the program, and threading (which is what seems to be the alternative) is very confusing to me.

Sorry, but "simultaneously" means you need threading. And yes, threading can be confusing, but it is worse to dive into it. — Klaus D.
– Klaus D., Commented Jul 26, 2016 at 7:29
The alternative to threading - a mainloop - is probably a lot more confusing. Threading isn't all that hard. — Aran-Fey
– Aran-Fey, Commented Jul 26, 2016 at 7:31
um, can't you just measure the time (time.clock() or datetime.datetime.now()) before asking the user and then again afterwards? The difference is the time it took them to answer, there is no need for threads or loops here. — Tadhg McDonald-Jensen
– Tadhg McDonald-Jensen, Commented Jul 26, 2016 at 7:32

U.Swap · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-26 09:31:00Z

1

You can start new thread , by using following code and write whatever your functional logic in it's run() method.

import threading
import time

class RepeatEvery(threading.Thread):
    def __init__(self, interval):

        threading.Thread.__init__(self)     
        self.interval = interval  # seconds between calls
        self.runable = True

    def run(self):
        global score # make score global for this thread context
        while self.runable:
            time.sleep(self.interval)
            if self.runable:     
                score = score - 1
                self.runable = False

    def stop(self):
        self.runable = False

The above code will iterate until thread is runnable(self.runable = True), so after 2 seconds score will decremented by 1. and loop inside the run method will break, and will be terminated.

So, in order to call above thread do this.

score_thread = RepeatEvery(2)
score_thread.start()

this will call the thread constructor init and will initialize the interval variable with 2 seconds or whatever value passed from here.

In order to stop the thread meanwhile, just call the stop() method.

score_thread.stop()

You can also call join() method , to wait until thread completes it's execution.

score_thread.join()

Doesn't looks so confusing :)

edited Jul 26, 2016 at 9:31

answered Jul 26, 2016 at 7:47

U.Swap

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6 Comments

Warstolrem Over a year ago

When I try to call the thread it says that RepeatEvery is not defined. I'm not sure where in the code I should place the start lines either.

Warstolrem Over a year ago

Still causing me issues, says I'm missing a module (I have threading) and says that RepeatEvery is not defined

U.Swap Over a year ago

it should work check the indentation of the class where you defined it!

Warstolrem Over a year ago

Thank you, got it to work. I was trying to fit my while loop into the run() but apparently that wasn't necessary. Works now

U.Swap Over a year ago

always glad to help!

|

Netwave · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-26 07:48:57Z

1

You can use a corutine if you dont want to use any thread, each time you call the next method of the generator it will yield the elapsed time:

def timer():
    prev_time = new_time = 0
    while True:
        prev_time, new_time = new_time, time.clock()
        time_delta = new_time - prev_time
        yield time_delta

>>> t = timer()
>>> t.next()
4.399568842253459e-06
>>> t.next()
1.7571719571481994
>>> t.next()
0.8449679931366727

answered Jul 26, 2016 at 7:48

Netwave

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Comments

drancope · Accepted Answer · 2025-01-13 12:45:41Z

0

You can use a time comparator, widely used in microcontrollers.

You need a time function such as time.process_time()

An initial time is requested, and then, in every execution of the main loop a new time is compared to the first. If time difference is greater than 2 seconds, then you make your changes and reset initial time.

import time
initialTime = time.process_time()*1000

for True:
    nowTime = time.process_time()*1000
    if (nowTime - initialTime) > 200:
        points = points-1
        initialTime = nowTime

    #do your things

answered Jan 13 at 12:45

drancope

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