Master Python Multiprocessing [In-Depth Tutorial]

Introduction to Python Multiprocessing

What is Multiprocessing?

Multiprocessing is a programming paradigm that allows for the concurrent execution of multiple processes to improve the performance and speed of computational tasks. In Python, the multiprocessing module provides a simple and intuitive API to create and manage processes, making it easier to develop multi-process applications.

 

Why Use Multiprocessing in Python?

Python's Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) can be a bottleneck for CPU-bound tasks as it prevents multiple threads from executing Python bytecodes simultaneously. Multiprocessing bypasses the GIL, allowing you to fully utilize the computational power of multi-core CPUs for tasks like data processing, analysis, and complex computations.

To use the multiprocessing features in your Python program, you'll need to import the module. You can import it like any other standard library in Python:

import multiprocessing

Or you can import specific functions and classes:

from multiprocessing import Process, Queue

 

The Basics of Python Multiprocessing

Understanding Processes

A process is an instance of a program that runs in its own separate memory space and is managed by the operating system. Each process may contain multiple threads that share the same memory resources but execute independently. Processes provide a way to run multiple tasks concurrently, which can lead to better use of system resources and improved application performance.

Process ID, Parent Process, and Child Process

• Process ID (PID): Each process has a unique identifier known as a PID.
• Parent Process: This is the original process from which child processes are spawned.
• Child Process: These are the new processes that are spawned (created) by the parent process.

Example: Identifying PID, Parent, and Child Processes

import os
import multiprocessing

def print_info():
    print(f"Process ID: {os.getpid()}")
    print(f"Parent Process ID: {os.getppid()}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    print("Main Process:")
    print_info()

    print("Child Process:")
    p = multiprocessing.Process(target=print_info)
    p.start()
    p.join()

Single-threaded vs Multi-threaded vs Multiprocessing

Single-threaded: Programs run in a single sequence of operations. If one task blocks (e.g., IO-bound operation), the whole program is essentially blocked.

# Pseudo-code to demonstrate single-threaded execution
task1()
task2()
task3()

Multi-threaded: Programs have multiple threads running in the same memory space. Threads can work on separate tasks concurrently, but they are limited by the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) in CPython, which allows only one thread to execute Python bytecode at a time.

# Pseudo-code to demonstrate multi-threaded execution
thread1(task1)
thread2(task2)
thread3(task3)

Multiprocessing: Utilizes multiple processes, each with its own memory space and Python interpreter with its own GIL. This allows for true parallel execution of tasks and is beneficial for CPU-bound operations.

# Pseudo-code to demonstrate multiprocessing
process1(task1)
process2(task2)
process3(task3)

Threading vs Multiprocessing - Performance Impacts

Both are techniques to execute multiple tasks concurrently, but they are different:

• Threading: Multiple threads share the same memory space. Better for I/O-bound tasks.
• Multiprocessing: Each process runs in its own memory space. Better for CPU-bound tasks.

Example: Threading vs Multiprocessing for CPU-bound task

import threading
import multiprocessing
import time

def cpu_bound_task():
    result = 0
    for _ in range(10 ** 7):
        result += 1

# Using threading
start_time = time.time()
threads = []
for _ in range(10):
    thread = threading.Thread(target=cpu_bound_task)
    threads.append(thread)
    thread.start()

for thread in threads:
    thread.join()
print(f"Threading took {time.time() - start_time}")

# Using multiprocessing
start_time = time.time()
processes = []
for _ in range(10):
    process = multiprocessing.Process(target=cpu_bound_task)
    processes.append(process)
    process.start()

for process in processes:
    process.join()
print(f"Multiprocessing took {time.time() - start_time}")

Output:

Threading took 6.1870763301849365
Multiprocessing took 0.7051284313201904

In this example, you can notice that Python multiprocessing is usually faster for CPU-bound tasks because each process runs independently in its own memory space and takes advantage of multiple CPUs.

Importance of the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL)

The Global Interpreter Lock, or GIL, is a mutex that protects access to Python objects in CPython, preventing multiple native threads from executing Python bytecodes simultaneously. This makes multi-threaded Python programs ineffective for CPU-bound tasks, as only one thread can execute at a time even on multi-core systems. Python Multiprocessing bypasses the GIL and allows for parallel execution, making it useful for CPU-bound operations.

 

Getting Started with your First Multiprocessing Program

The purpose of this section is to help you get your feet wet with Python multiprocessing module. By the end, you'll be able to write a simple multiprocessing program, understand its components, and interpret its output.

Here's a simple Python code snippet that uses Python multiprocessing to print "Hello, world!" from two different processes:

from multiprocessing import Process

def print_hello():
    print("Hello, world!")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    process1 = Process(target=print_hello)
    process2 = Process(target=print_hello)

    process1.start()
    process2.start()

    process1.join()
    process2.join()

Copy and paste this code into a Python file, and run it.

Explaining the Code

• Importing Process Class: The from multiprocessing import Process line imports the Process class from the multiprocessing module.
• Defining the Function: def print_hello(): defines a function that prints "Hello, world!" when called.
• __name__ == "__main__" Block: This ensures the script runs only when executed directly (not imported as a module).
• Creating Processes:
  • process1 = Process(target=print_hello) creates a new process object. The function print_hello is set as the target function to execute.
  • process2 = Process(target=print_hello) does the same for a second process.
• Starting Processes:
  • process1.start() starts the execution of process1.
  • process2.start() starts the execution of process2.
• Joining Processes:
  • process1.join() waits for process1 to complete.
  • process2.join() waits for process2 to complete.

After running the program, you should see the output:

Hello, world!
Hello, world!

Key Points:

• Two separate processes execute print_hello function.
• Order of output might differ on subsequent runs due to the inherent nature of concurrent execution.
• The join() method ensures that the main program waits for both processes to complete.

 

Understanding the Core Concepts

Understanding the core concepts of Python multiprocessing is crucial for implementing efficient concurrent programs. In this section, we'll focus on two fundamental approaches for process creation: using the Process class and using Pool.

1. Process Creation

1.1 Using Process Class

The Process class is the most basic way to create a new process. You can assign a function (target) to a process object and control the process through its methods like start() and join().

Example 1: Basic Usage

from multiprocessing import Process

def my_function(name):
    print(f"Hello from {name}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    p1 = Process(target=my_function, args=("Process 1",))
    p2 = Process(target=my_function, args=("Process 2",))

    p1.start()
    p2.start()

    p1.join()
    p2.join()

    print("Both processes are done")

In this example, two processes (p1 and p2) are created and both run the my_function with different arguments. The start() method initiates the processes, while join() ensures that the main program waits for their completion.

Key Points:

• The target parameter specifies the function to be executed.
• The args parameter passes arguments to the target function.

1.2 Using Pool

The Pool class allows you to manage multiple worker processes, especially for tasks that can be broken down into smaller sub-tasks to be executed in parallel. It abstracts much of the manual process management that you'd have to do using Process.

Example 2: Using Pool.map()

from multiprocessing import Pool

def square(x):
    return x * x

if __name__ == "__main__":
    data = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
    with Pool() as pool:
        results = pool.map(square, data)
    print("Squares:", results)

In this example, the Pool.map() function takes care of dividing the data list into chunks and processes those chunks in parallel using the square function.

Key Points:

• Pool() automatically manages the worker processes.
• map() applies the function to each element in the input list, distributing the tasks across multiple processes.

 

2. Inter-Process Communication

2.1 Using Queue

A Queue provides a simple way to send and receive messages from one process to another. Queues are thread-safe and can be used to send Python objects between processes.

Example 1: Using Queue for Communication

from multiprocessing import Process, Queue

def worker(q):
    q.put("Hello from the worker process")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    my_queue = Queue()
    p = Process(target=worker, args=(my_queue,))
    p.start()
    p.join()

    message = my_queue.get()
    print(f"Main process received message: {message}")

In this example, the worker function puts a message into the queue. The main process retrieves the message from the queue after waiting for the worker process to complete.

Key Points:

• Use Queue.put() to insert data into the queue.
• Use Queue.get() to retrieve data from the queue.

2.2 Using Pipe

Pipe provides a lower-level, more flexible way to communicate between two processes. Unlike Queue, a Pipe can be used for bidirectional communication.

Example 2: Using Pipe for Bidirectional Communication

from multiprocessing import Process, Pipe

def worker(conn):
    conn.send("Hello from the worker process")
    message = conn.recv()
    print(f"Worker received message: {message}")
    conn.close()

if __name__ == "__main__":
    parent_conn, child_conn = Pipe()
    p = Process(target=worker, args=(child_conn,))
    p.start()

    print(f"Main process received message: {parent_conn.recv()}")
    parent_conn.send("Hello from the main process")

    p.join()

In this example, the worker process sends a message through its end of the pipe (child_conn), and then waits to receive a message. The main process reads the message from its end of the pipe (parent_conn), sends a reply, and waits for the worker process to complete.

Key Points:

• A Pipe returns two connection objects representing the two ends of the pipe.
• conn.send() and conn.recv() are used to send and receive messages.
• Both ends of the pipe can both send and receive messages, making it bidirectional.

 

3. Synchronization

When you have multiple processes modifying shared resources, you can run into race conditions that make your program behave unpredictably. Synchronization techniques like Locks and Semaphores can help prevent these issues.

3.1 Locks

A Lock is one of the simplest synchronization primitives available in Python multiprocessing. It allows you to enforce exclusive access to a resource.

Example 1: Using Lock to Synchronize Processes

from multiprocessing import Process, Lock

def printer(item, lock):
    lock.acquire()
    print(f"Printing {item}")
    lock.release()

if __name__ == '__main__':
    lock = Lock()
    items = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']

    for item in items:
        p = Process(target=printer, args=(item, lock))
        p.start()

In this example, the lock ensures that only one process can access the print function at a time, preventing the interleaving of output from different processes.

Key Points:

• Lock ensures that only one process can acquire it at a time.
• lock.acquire() and lock.release() are used to lock and unlock the resource.

3.2 Semaphores

Semaphores are an advanced synchronization mechanism that can be used when you need to limit the number of processes that can access a particular resource.

Example 2: Using Semaphore for Resource Control

from multiprocessing import Process, Semaphore

sem = Semaphore(3)  # Allow up to 3 processes to access the resource

def limited_resource(id):
    with sem:
        print(f"{id} is using the limited resource")
        # Simulate the actual usage

if __name__ == "__main__":
    processes = [Process(target=limited_resource, args=(i,)) for i in range(10)]

    for p in processes:
        p.start()

    for p in processes:
        p.join()

Here, the Semaphore allows only three processes at a time to enter the protected block of code.

Key Points:

• Semaphore(n) allows up to n processes to enter the semaphore.
• Using with sem: makes it easier to manage acquiring and releasing the semaphore.

 

4. Process States and Lifecycle

Understanding the process lifecycle can help in effectively managing resources and tasks. Here are the basic states:

• Created: The initial state when a process is instantiated but not yet called.
• Running: When start() is invoked, the process moves to the running state.
• Waiting: A process may wait for a resource to be released by using synchronization primitives like locks or semaphores.
• Terminated: After the process has completed its task, it moves to the terminated state.

Example 3: Observing the Process Lifecycle

from multiprocessing import Process, current_process
import time

def lifecycle_demo():
    print(f"Process {current_process().name} is Created")
    print(f"Process {current_process().name} is Running")
    time.sleep(2)
    print(f"Process {current_process().name} is Terminated")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    p = Process(target=lifecycle_demo)
    p.start()
    p.join()

In this example, each process goes through the Created, Running, and Terminated states.

Key Points:

• current_process().name gives the name of the current process, useful for debugging or logging.
• start() and join() methods move the process through its lifecycle.

 

Data Sharing and State

1. Shared Memory Data

Shared memory is a powerful feature for data sharing among processes but should be used carefully to avoid concurrency issues.

Using Value and Array

Value and Array are synchronization primitives that store data in a shared memory map.

Example 1: Using Value for a Shared Counter

from multiprocessing import Process, Value
import time

def increment(shared_counter):
    time.sleep(0.1)
    shared_counter.value += 1

if __name__ == '__main__':
    counter = Value('i', 0)  # 'i' indicates an integer type
    procs = [Process(target=increment, args=(counter,)) for _ in range(10)]

    for p in procs:
        p.start()

    for p in procs:
        p.join()

    print(f"Counter = {counter.value}")

Example 2: Using Array for Shared Data

from multiprocessing import Process, Array

def square(i, numbers):
    numbers[i] = numbers[i] ** 2

if __name__ == "__main__":
    numbers = Array('i', range(5))
    procs = [Process(target=square, args=(i, numbers)) for i in range(5)]

    for p in procs:
        p.start()

    for p in procs:
        p.join()

    print(f"Squared numbers are: {numbers[:]}")

 

2. Manager Objects

Manager objects like Manager().List() and Manager().Dict() offer a way to create <a href="https://www.golinuxcloud.com/python-tree-data-structure/" title="Python Tree Data Structure Explained [Practical Examples]" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">data structures</a> that can be shared among different processes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":"medium-font"} --> <p class="medium-font">Using <code>List and Dictionary

Example 3: Using List to Collect Results

from multiprocessing import Process, Manager

def worker(i, shared_list):
    shared_list.append(i * i)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    manager = Manager()
    shared_list = manager.list()

    procs = [Process(target=worker, args=(i, shared_list)) for i in range(5)]

    for p in procs:
        p.start()

    for p in procs:
        p.join()

    print(f"Squares are: {shared_list}")

Example 4: Using Dictionary to Store Key-Value Pairs

from multiprocessing import Process, Manager

def worker(i, shared_dict):
    shared_dict[i] = i * i

if __name__ == '__main__':
    manager = Manager()
    shared_dict = manager.dict()

    procs = [Process(target=worker, args=(i, shared_dict)) for i in range(5)]

    for p in procs:
        p.start()

    for p in procs:
        p.join()

    print(f"Squares are: {shared_dict}")

 

Advanced Topics

1. Daemon Processes

Daemon processes are background processes that automatically terminate when the main program finishes.

Example 1: Daemon Process

from multiprocessing import Process
import time

def daemon_worker():
    print('Starting Daemon')
    time.sleep(2)
    print('Exiting Daemon')

if __name__ == '__main__':
    daemon_process = Process(target=daemon_worker)
    daemon_process.daemon = True
    daemon_process.start()
    daemon_process.join(timeout=1)
    print('Main Process exiting')

Key Points:

• Use the .daemon attribute to set a process as a daemon.
• Daemon processes are terminated as soon as the main program finishes.

2. Process Inheritance

Child processes inherit resources from the parent, but there are limitations, especially with regard to resource-intensive objects or file descriptors.

Example 2: Inherited Resource

from multiprocessing import Process, current_process

def child_process():
    print(f"Child Process ID: {current_process().pid}")

if __name__ == '__main__':
    print(f"Main Process ID: {current_process().pid}")
    child = Process(target=child_process)
    child.start()
    child.join()

3. Using Contexts and Namespaces

Contexts in Python multiprocessing enable you to use different start methods for creating new processes.

Example 3: Using spawn and fork Contexts

import multiprocessing

def worker():
    print("Worker Function")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    for context in ['spawn', 'fork']:
        print(f"Using {context} start method")
        multiprocessing.set_start_method(context)
        p = multiprocessing.Process(target=worker)
        p.start()
        p.join()

Key Points:

• set_start_method allows you to set the method used for starting new Processes.
• The default is usually 'fork' on Unix and 'spawn' on Windows.

4. Exception Handling and Debugging

Understanding how to debug and handle exceptions can save a lot of time during development.

Example 4: Handling Exceptions

from multiprocessing import Process

def faulty_worker():
    raise Exception("Something went wrong!")

if __name__ == '__main__':
    try:
        p = Process(target=faulty_worker)
        p.start()
        p.join()
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Caught exception: {e}")

Use .join() to collect the exit code of the process; check for non-zero exit codes to identify exceptions.

 

Best Practices

Adhering to best practices can make your Python multiprocessing code more efficient, easier to debug, and less prone to errors. Below are some of the recommended best practices:

1. Avoiding Deadlocks

Deadlocks can occur when two or more processes are waiting for each other to release a resource, or more commonly, to complete a task.

Example 1: Using Timeout to Avoid Deadlocks

from multiprocessing import Lock

lock = Lock()

def worker_1():
    with lock:  # Critical section of code
        # Do something

def worker_2():
    with lock:
        # Do something else

if __name__ == '__main__':
    try:
        lock.acquire(timeout=5)
    except TimeoutError:
        print("Potential deadlock detected, terminating program")

Key Points:

• Use timeouts when acquiring locks to avoid deadlocks.
• Always release resources in the opposite order to which you acquired them.

2. Optimizing Communication Overhead

Inter-process communication can become a bottleneck if not managed well.

Example 2: Using Pipe for Efficient Communication

from multiprocessing import Process, Pipe

def sender(conn):
    conn.send(['data'])
    conn.close()

def receiver(conn):
    print(conn.recv())

if __name__ == '__main__':
    parent_conn, child_conn = Pipe()
    p1 = Process(target=sender, args=(parent_conn,))
    p2 = Process(target=receiver, args=(child_conn,))

    p1.start()
    p2.start()

    p1.join()
    p2.join()

Key Points:

• Use Pipe for point-to-point communication for better speed.
• Minimize data transfer between processes to reduce overhead.

3. Resource Management

Proper resource management can prevent memory leaks and excessive CPU usage.

Example 3: Using Pool for Resource Management

from multiprocessing import Pool

def square(x):
    return x * x

if __name__ == '__main__':
    with Pool(processes=4) as pool:
        results = pool.map(square, range(10))
    print(results)

Key Points:

• Use Pool to manage worker processes, which can automatically manage resources for you.
• Always close or terminate processes that are no longer needed.

4. Logging and Monitoring

Logging can help with debugging and monitoring the state of various processes.

Example 4: Simple Logging in Python Multiprocessing

import logging
from multiprocessing import get_logger, current_process

logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)

def worker():
    logger = get_logger()
    logger.info(f'{current_process().name} is executing.')

if __name__ == '__main__':
    for _ in range(5):
        Process(target=worker).start()

Key Points:

• Use Python's built-in logging module for basic logging.
• For more advanced scenarios, consider using third-party monitoring tools.

 

Process Control in Multiprocessing

Having a strong understanding of process control can aid in effective and efficient Python multiprocessing. Below are some of the key aspects.

1. Terminating Processes

The ability to terminate a process is important in scenarios where a task has become obsolete or if the system requires immediate resource freeing.

Example 1: Terminating a Process

from multiprocessing import Process
import time

def worker():
    for _ in range(10):
        print("Working...")
        time.sleep(1)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    p = Process(target=worker)
    p.start()
    time.sleep(3)  # Let it work for 3 seconds
    p.terminate()
    p.join()
    print("Process terminated.")

Key Points:

• .terminate() forcefully stops a worker process.
• Always follow .terminate() with .join() to make sure the process has ended and to release resources.

2. Process Exit Codes

Exit codes can provide valuable information about how a process terminated, allowing you to handle exceptions and errors appropriately.

Example 2: Checking Process Exit Codes

from multiprocessing import Process, current_process

def worker():
    print(f"Worker Function running on {current_process().name}")
    return 1  # Exit code

if __name__ == '__main__':
    p = Process(target=worker)
    p.start()
    p.join()

    print(f"Exit Code: {p.exitcode}")

Key Points:

• A zero exitcode generally means the process completed successfully.
• A non-zero exitcode signifies that the process encountered an error or exception.

3. CPU Affinity and Process Priority

These are platform-specific features, and manipulating them can be crucial for performance tuning.

Example 3: Setting CPU Affinity (Linux/Unix Specific)

import os
from multiprocessing import Process

def worker():
    print(f"Worker Function running on PID: {os.getpid()}")

if __name__ == '__main__':
    p = Process(target=worker)
    p.start()
    p.join()

    # Setting CPU affinity to CPU 0 and CPU 2 (Platform Specific)
    os.sched_setaffinity(p.pid, {0, 2})

Key Points:

• CPU affinity settings are generally platform-specific and may require additional permissions.
• Manipulating process priorities can affect the system's stability and performance.

 

Error Handling and Debugging in Multiprocessing

Proper error handling and debugging are essential for maintaining robust Python multiprocessing programs. This section outlines best practices for these concerns.

1. Handling Exceptions in Child Processes

In a Python multiprocessing context, child processes don't propagate exceptions back to the parent. Therefore, handling exceptions within child processes is crucial.

Example 1: Exception Handling in Child Process

from multiprocessing import Process

def worker():
    try:
        # Trigger an exception
        raise ValueError("Something went wrong!")
    except ValueError as e:
        print(f"Caught exception: {e}")

if __name__ == '__main__':
    p = Process(target=worker)
    p.start()
    p.join()

Key Points:

• Always include exception handling within the target function of your Process instances.
• Check the exitcode attribute of the Process instance for hints on what might have gone wrong.

2. Debugging Multiprocessing Programs

Debugging can be more challenging in a Python multiprocessing environment due to concurrent execution.

Example 2: Using pdb in Child Process

import pdb
from multiprocessing import Process

def worker():
    pdb.set_trace()  # This will pause the worker, waiting for your input.
    print("Doing some work")

if __name__ == '__main__':
    p = Process(target=worker)
    p.start()
    p.join()

Key Points:

• Using pdb directly in a child process can be difficult.
• Utilize logging to collect debug information or use specialized debugging tools that support Python multiprocessing.

3. Logging

Logging is invaluable for tracking the state of your processes and for debugging.

Example 3: Logging with Multiprocessing

from multiprocessing import Process, get_logger, log_to_stderr
import logging

log_to_stderr()
logger = get_logger()
logger.setLevel(logging.INFO)

def worker():
    logger.info("Worker Function")
    print("Doing some work")

if __name__ == '__main__':
    p = Process(target=worker)
    p.start()
    p.join()

Key Points:

• Python's logging module is thread-safe and can be used in Python multiprocessing.
• Utilize different log levels (e.g., INFO, DEBUG, WARNING, ERROR) to filter the information you collect.
• For more complex scenarios, consider using third-party libraries or services that specialize in logging and monitoring multi-process applications.

 

Performance Considerations in Multiprocessing

While Python multiprocessing can speed up many tasks, there are scenarios where it can introduce overhead and actually slow down the application. Here are some topics to consider for performance optimization.

1. Overheads and When Not to Use Multiprocessing

Python Multiprocessing introduces overhead for process creation, communication, and termination. In some cases, these costs may outweigh the benefits.

Example 1: Overhead Measurement

Here, we compare the time taken to square a list of numbers using a single process and multiple processes.

import time
from multiprocessing import Pool

def square(x):
    return x * x

data = list(range(1000))

# Single-threaded execution
start_time = time.time()
result = list(map(square, data))
print("Single-threaded time:", time.time() - start_time)

# Multi-threaded execution
start_time = time.time()
with Pool(processes=4) as pool:
    result = pool.map(square, data)
print("Multi-threaded time:", time.time() - start_time)

As we can see below, for small data sets or quick tasks, the overhead of Python multiprocessing make it less efficient than a single-threaded approach.

Single-threaded time: 0.00013303756713867188
Multi-threaded time: 0.13201260566711426

2. Profiling and Benchmarking

To identify bottlenecks and understand the performance of your code, profiling is essential.

Example 2: Profiling with cProfile

import cProfile
from multiprocessing import Pool

def square(x):
    return x * x

def main():
    data = list(range(1000))
    with Pool(processes=4) as pool:
        result = pool.map(square, data)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    cProfile.run('main()')

Key Points:

• Profiling can show you the hotspots in your code.
• Optimize the most time-consuming parts first.

3. Optimizing Memory and CPU Utilization

Memory and CPU utilization are critical metrics that indicate how efficiently your application uses system resources.

Example 3: Using Shared Memory to Reduce Memory Overhead

from multiprocessing import Array

# Create a shared array
shared_array = Array('i', [0, 1, 2, 3, 4])

def worker(i, arr):
    arr[i] = arr[i] ** 2

if __name__ == '__main__':
    with Pool(processes=4) as pool:
        pool.starmap(worker, [(i, shared_array) for i in range(5)])
    print(shared_array[:])

Key Points:

Shared memory reduces the memory overhead by allowing multiple processes to read/write to the same data structure.

 

Security Implications in Multiprocessing

Security often becomes an afterthought when developing Python multiprocessing applications. However, it is crucial to consider security aspects to protect sensitive data and communications between processes. Here are some guidelines:

Authentication keys can be used to ensure that only authorized processes can connect to a Manager server.

Example 1: Using Authentication Keys with Manager

from multiprocessing.managers import BaseManager

class MathClass:
    def add(self, x, y):
        return x + y

if __name__ == '__main__':
    manager = BaseManager(address=('', 50000), authkey=b'secret-key')
    manager.register('Math', MathClass)

    server = manager.get_server()
    print("Server started. Waiting for connections...")
    server.serve_forever()

In the client code:

from multiprocessing.managers import BaseManager

if __name__ == '__main__':
    manager = BaseManager(address=('localhost', 50000), authkey=b'secret-key')
    manager.register('Math')

    manager.connect()

    math = manager.Math()
    print(math.add(4, 4))  # Should print 8 if authenticated

The authkey attribute ensures that both the server and client processes must know the key to establish a connection.

 

Comparing Multiprocessing Vs Threading Vs Async IO Vs Distributed Computing

Understanding how Python multiprocessing stacks up against other techniques can help you make more informed decisions about which to use for different tasks. Below is a table that compares multiprocessing with threading, Async IO, and distributed computing like Hadoop.

 

Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Python Multiprocessing

 

Summary and Key Takeaways

• Processes: The basic units in Python multiprocessing. Each runs independently and has its own Python interpreter.
• Pool: A convenient way to manage a group of worker processes.
• IPC (Inter-Process Communication): Data sharing via Queue and Pipe.
• Synchronization: Locks and semaphores to ensure coordinated and safe data access.
• Shared Memory: Value, Array, and Manager objects allow different processes to access the same data structures.

 

Additional Resources

• Official Python Documentation on Multiprocessing: Python Multiprocessing
• How to use Queue and Pipe: IPC using Queue and Pipe
• Understanding Locks and Semaphores: Synchronization between Processes
• Async IO and Multiprocessing: Using Async IO and Multiprocessing Together