One method I am fond of is based on the observer pattern. I define a signal class which my thread uses to emit exceptions to listeners. It can also be used to return values from threads. Example:
import threading
class Signal:
def __init__(self):
self._subscribers = list()
def emit(self, *args, **kwargs):
for func in self._subscribers:
func(*args, **kwargs)
def connect(self, func):
self._subscribers.append(func)
def disconnect(self, func):
try:
self._subscribers.remove(func)
except ValueError:
raise ValueError('Function {0} not removed from {1}'.format(func, self))
class WorkerThread(threading.Thread):
def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
super(WorkerThread, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
self.Exception = Signal()
self.Result = Signal()
def run(self):
if self._Thread__target is not None:
try:
self._return_value = self._Thread__target(*self._Thread__args, **self._Thread__kwargs)
except Exception as e:
self.Exception.emit(e)
else:
self.Result.emit(self._return_value)
if __name__ == '__main__':
import time
def handle_exception(exc):
print exc.message
def handle_result(res):
print res
def a():
time.sleep(1)
raise IOError('a failed')
def b():
time.sleep(2)
return 'b returns'
t = WorkerThread(target=a)
t2 = WorkerThread(target=b)
t.Exception.connect(handle_exception)
t2.Result.connect(handle_result)
t.start()
t2.start()
print 'Threads started'
t.join()
t2.join()
print 'Done'
I do not have enough experience of working with threads to claim that this is a completely safe method. But it has worked for me and I like the flexibility.