Timeout Function in Python (For Windows)

Yes, it can be done in windows without signal and it will also work in other os as well. The logic is to create a new thread and wait for a given time and raise an exception using _thread(in python3 and thread in python2). This exception will be thrown in the main thread and the with block will get exit if any exception occurs.

import threading import _thread # import thread in python2 class timeout(): def __init__(self, time): self.time= time self.exit=False def __enter__(self): threading.Thread(target=self.callme).start() def callme(self): time.sleep(self.time) if self.exit==False: _thread.interrupt_main() # use thread instead of _thread in python2 def __exit__(self, a, b, c): self.exit=True 

Usuage Example :-

with timeout(2): print("abc") #other stuff here 

The program in the with block should exit within 2 seconds otherise it will be exited after 2 seconds.