Change process priority in Python, cross-platform

Change process priority in Python, cross-platform

Changing process priority in a cross-platform manner in Python can be achieved using platform-independent libraries and techniques. Python's psutil library is a great choice for this purpose, as it provides cross-platform process management capabilities, including setting process priorities. Here's how you can change process priority using psutil:

  1. Install the psutil library if you haven't already. You can install it using pip:

    pip install psutil 
  2. Use the following Python code to change the process priority:

import psutil # Define the process ID (PID) of the target process pid = 12345 # Replace with the PID of your target process # Define the priority level priority_level = psutil.HIGH_PRIORITY_CLASS # You can choose from various priority levels try: # Get the process object process = psutil.Process(pid) # Set the process priority process.nice(priority_level) print(f"Changed priority of process {pid} to {priority_level}") except psutil.NoSuchProcess: print(f"Process with PID {pid} not found.") except psutil.AccessDenied: print(f"Access denied. Try running the script with elevated privileges.") 

In this code:

  • We import the psutil library.

  • You should replace the pid variable with the PID of the target process for which you want to change the priority.

  • You can define the priority_level variable with one of the available priority classes provided by psutil. Common priority levels include psutil.HIGH_PRIORITY_CLASS, psutil.NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS, psutil.IDLE_PRIORITY_CLASS, and others.

  • We use a try-except block to handle exceptions such as when the process with the specified PID is not found or when access is denied due to insufficient privileges.

  • Finally, we set the process priority using the process.nice(priority_level) method.

This code should work on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a cross-platform solution for changing process priorities in Python using psutil.

Examples

  1. How to change process priority in Python using psutil module?

    • Description: Psutil is a Python cross-platform library for retrieving information on running processes and system utilization. By utilizing this library, you can adjust the priority of processes, allowing for efficient management of system resources.
    • Code:
      import psutil # Get the process ID pid = <process_id> # Set the process priority psutil.Process(pid).nice(psutil.HIGH_PRIORITY_CLASS) 
  2. How to set process priority in Python on Windows?

    • Description: Altering process priority on Windows platforms can be done using the win32api module in Python. This method provides a straightforward approach to adjust the priority of processes.
    • Code:
      import win32api, win32process, win32con # Get the process ID pid = <process_id> # Set the process priority handle = win32api.OpenProcess(win32con.PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS, False, pid) win32process.SetPriorityClass(handle, win32process.HIGH_PRIORITY_CLASS) 
  3. How to change process priority in Python on Linux?

    • Description: On Linux systems, process priority can be manipulated using the os module. This approach offers a platform-specific solution for adjusting process priority.
    • Code:
      import os # Get the process ID pid = <process_id> # Set the process priority os.nice(-10) # Example: Sets priority to a lower value (higher priority) 
  4. Python code to increase process priority on macOS

    • Description: Modifying process priority on macOS systems can be accomplished through Python's os module. Although macOS handles process priority differently compared to other platforms, this method enables adjusting priority effectively.
    • Code:
      import os # Get the process ID pid = <process_id> # Set the process priority os.setpriority(os.PRIO_PROCESS, pid, -10) # Example: Sets priority to a lower value (higher priority) 
  5. How to raise process priority in Python using ctypes?

    • Description: Utilizing the ctypes module in Python allows for direct interaction with system libraries, enabling manipulation of process priority across different platforms.
    • Code:
      import ctypes # Get the process ID pid = <process_id> # Set the process priority ctypes.windll.kernel32.SetPriorityClass(ctypes.windll.kernel32.GetCurrentProcess(), 0x00008000) # Example: Sets priority to high 
  6. Python code to lower process priority using subprocess module

    • Description: The subprocess module provides a convenient way to spawn new processes, and indirectly, it can be used to alter the priority of processes spawned within Python scripts.
    • Code:
      import subprocess # Spawn a new process with subprocess process = subprocess.Popen(["command_to_execute"], shell=True) # Adjust the priority of the subprocess process.nice(10) # Example: Increase priority 
  7. How to change process priority using Python threading module?

    • Description: Though Python's threading module primarily focuses on managing threads, it can indirectly affect process priority by executing tasks with different priority levels within the same process.
    • Code:
      import threading def task(): # Task logic here # Create a new thread t = threading.Thread(target=task) # Set thread priority (indirectly affecting process priority) t.setpriority(threading.PRIO_HIGH) # Example: Set thread priority to high 
  8. Adjusting process priority in Python using taskset command

    • Description: By utilizing the subprocess module, Python scripts can invoke system commands such as taskset to manipulate process priority, providing a flexible approach across platforms.
    • Code:
      import subprocess # Execute taskset command to set CPU affinity and priority subprocess.run(["taskset", "-cp", "0-3", str(<process_id>)]) 
  9. How to manage process priority in Python with multiprocessing module?

    • Description: Python's multiprocessing module facilitates parallel computing by spawning multiple processes. While it primarily focuses on concurrency, it indirectly influences process priority by distributing tasks across multiple processes.
    • Code:
      import multiprocessing def task(): # Task logic here # Create a new process p = multiprocessing.Process(target=task) # Set process priority (indirectly affecting process priority) p.nice(10) # Example: Increase priority 

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