From: ara.t.howard@...
Date: 2007-03-27T23:32:13+09:00
Subject: Re: Timeout and windows

On Tue, 27 Mar 2007, Jamie wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I am using windows, which is probably the source of the problem.
>
> I have a pipe that executes an external Ruby program, and i want to have
> a timeout on the pipe. The problem is that when the time is up the pipe
> process is not terminated. The pipe finishes its task and then returns
> in its own time; howver the timeout is acknowledged on its return - its
> just that the process is not interupted as it should be after t seconds.
>
> I think this is probably a result of windows and threading, but is there
> a way around it while i continue to use windows?

pipes and windows under ruby is a bad, bad idea unless you are very very
careful.  the definitely should not also put threads into the mix.  the
timeout library is implimented using a thread.  take a look at this

   # gem install systemu

   http://codeforpeople.com/lib/ruby/systemu/systemu-1.0.0/README

samples/f.rb shows the facility you will need to kill the process if the time
goes beyond a certain limit.  it's also safe to use systemu from inside a
timeout block

   Timeout.timeout(4) do
     system 'ruby -e"  sleep 42  "'
   end

regards.

-a
-- 
be kind whenever possible... it is always possible.
- the dalai lama