py-task-runner

Multi-threaded task runner in Python

This Python application is designed to efficiently manage and execute a large batch of tasks in parallel. Utilizing the power of multi-threading, it reads a list of commands from a file and executes them concurrently, optimizing the use of system resources. The application is particularly adept at handling both CPU-bound and I/O-bound tasks, dynamically adjusting the number of worker threads based on the nature of the tasks and the capabilities of the underlying hardware.

Key Features

• Concurrent Task Execution: Leverages concurrent.futures.ThreadPoolExecutor for executing multiple tasks in parallel, significantly improving the efficiency for large batches of tasks.
• Robust Error Handling: Each task is executed in a separate subprocess with comprehensive error handling, ensuring the overall process continues smoothly even if individual tasks fail.
• Detailed Logging: Outputs detailed logs for each task, including a timestamp, execution time, command, and the result or error message, aiding in easy monitoring and debugging.
• Command-Line Interface: Offers a simple and intuitive command-line interface for specifying the file containing the tasks and the type of tasks, enhancing user convenience and flexibility.

Number of workers

Calculating the optimal number of num_workers for a ThreadPoolExecutor in Python depends on the nature of the tasks and the characteristics of the system on which the code is running. There are two primary types of tasks:

• CPU-bound tasks: These tasks are limited by the speed of the CPU. Examples include mathematical computations, data processing, etc.
• I/O-bound tasks: These tasks are limited by input/output operations, such as reading/writing files, network operations, etc.

For CPU-bound Tasks

The optimal number of workers is usually close to the number of CPU cores available, as having more workers than cores will not significantly improve performance and can even degrade it due to context switching and other overheads.

For I/O-bound Tasks

The optimal number can be higher than the number of CPU cores because these tasks often wait for I/O operations to complete and do not continuously use the CPU. The exact number can vary significantly based on the nature of the I/O operations, the speed of the I/O subsystem, network latency, etc.

A common heuristic is to use 2-4 times the number of CPU cores, but this can be adjusted based on the specific characteristics of the tasks and the I/O system.

Usage

The application is designed to be user-friendly and can be easily executed from the command line. Users can specify the path to the file containing the tasks and the type of tasks (CPU-bound or I/O-bound). The file should contain one command per line.

python task-runner.py -f /path/to/file.txt -t [cpu/io]

options:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
  -f FILE, --file FILE  path to file
  -t TYPE, --type TYPE  Type of task pool (cpu or io)

Getting Started

To get started with this application, clone the repository, ensure Python 3.x is installed on your system, and run the script with the desired parameters.

This tool is ideal for scenarios where you need to run multiple commands or scripts simultaneously and efficiently, such as batch processing, data analysis, or automated testing environments.

Compiling into a binary

For ease of distribution and use, this application can be compiled into a single executable file using PyInstaller. This allows users to run the application without needing a separate Python installation or dealing with dependencies. To create an executable, first install PyInstaller via pip:

pip install pyinstaller

Then, compile the script into a single executable file using the following command:

pyinstaller --onefile task-runner.py

This command generates a standalone executable file in the dist directory. You can distribute this file to users who can run the application directly without needing Python installed on their system. This feature is particularly useful for deploying the application in environments where Python is not available or for users who might not be familiar with Python scripts.