Introducing set_interval() function in Python

In Python, we often need to schedule a function to be executed at a set interval. The set_interval() function is a handy utility that allows us to do just that. It takes two arguments: a function to execute and an interval in seconds.

import threading

def set_interval(func, sec):
    def func_wrapper():
        set_interval(func, sec)
        func()
    t = threading.Timer(sec, func_wrapper)
    t.start()
    return t

How to use set_interval()

To use set_interval(), first define the function you want to execute at a set interval. For example, let's say we want to print the current time every 5 seconds.

import time

def print_time():
    print(time.strftime('%H:%M:%S'))

set_interval(print_time, 5)

The set_interval() function takes print_time as its first argument and 5 as its second argument. This schedules the print_time() function to be executed every 5 seconds.

How set_interval() works

The set_interval() function works by using Python's built-in threading module to create a Timer object that executes the function passed as argument after the specified interval. It then passes an instance of a func_wrapper() function to the Timer object, which calls set_interval() again to reschedule the function to be executed at the next interval. This creates a loop that runs the function repeatedly at the set interval.

Conclusion

The set_interval() function is a useful utility in Python that allows you to schedule a function to be executed at a set interval. It is easy to use and allows you to automate repetitive tasks.