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File-Based Queue, Scheduler, and Mutex Locker for Python (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Project description


🧩 SynGate: File-Based Queue, Scheduler, Batch Processor, and Mutex Locker for Python (Windows, macOS, Linux)

SynGate is a lightweight, cross-platform solution for managing access between multiple local Python processes or console scripts.
It serves as a queue manager, task scheduler, and mutex locker, all using the local file system as its only backend.
No threads, no networking, and no external services required.

Built on top of withopen for reliable and atomic file-based control.


✅ Features

SynGate provides mechanisms to:

  • 🚦 Queue tasks in order using session IDs
  • ⏲️ Delay or skip processes based on time freshness (pulse)
  • 🔐 Lock or block execution with "Active" tags
  • ✅ Signal readiness with "Done" tags
  • 🔒 Serve as a file-based mutex lock across terminals or scripts

Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.


🔰 Basic Example: Run a Task When It Is Safe

from syngate import enter, done

if enter("my_task", pulse=15):
    run_expensive_job()
    done("my_task")

What this does:

  • enter() checks if it is safe to run based on timing and queue state
  • If safe, your task runs
  • done() marks it as completed so others can proceed

⚙️ Parameters and Behavior

🧠 pulse: Freshness Timeout

The pulse defines how long an "Active" tag is considered fresh. If a tag is older than the pulse, it is considered stale, allowing a new task to proceed.

enter("data_export", pulse=20)

In this example, no other task can enter this gate for 20 seconds unless done() is called earlier.


🔄 wait=True (default): Wait Your Turn

The process waits until it is allowed to proceed.

# Only one terminal trims logs; others wait
if enter("log_trim", pulse=10, wait=True):
    trim_logs()
    done("log_trim")

🕊 wait=False: Skip If Blocked

The process skips execution if the gate is held. This is useful when you want one console to handle the task, but skip silently if another process is already doing it.

# Multiple tabs open; only one should handle cleanup
if enter("log_trim", pulse=10, wait=False):
    trim_logs()
    done("log_trim")
else:
    print("Skipped. Another tab is already trimming.")

👁️ display=True: Show Status in Console

The display parameter controls whether status messages are printed to the console.

if enter("my_task", pulse=12, display=True):
    do_something()
    done("my_task")

You will see messages like:

🧩 SYNGATE | QUEUING 🟡 [12:01:04]
🧩 SYNGATE | DEQUEUE 🟢 [12:01:07]

To run silently, set display=False:

if enter("silent_task", pulse=10, display=False):
    run_silently()
    done("silent_task")

✅ Using done(): Signal Early Completion

By default, pulse controls how long others must wait. If your task finishes early, call done() to release the gate immediately.

if enter("fast_task", pulse=15):
    do_quick_thing()
    done("fast_task")  # Allow the next task to proceed without waiting 15 seconds

🔐 Using active(): Extend "I'm Busy" Signal

If your process is still working but has not re-entered the gate, use active() to manually signal that it is still in progress.

# Prevent others from starting while work is still ongoing
active("data_load", pulse=12)

This delays others from entering until the pulse expires, acting like a soft lock.


🧠 Use Cases

  • 🧪 Queueing batch tasks across Python scripts
  • 🔒 Mutex locking using only the file system
  • 🧼 Preventing overlapping jobs such as log trimming or backups
  • 🕰️ Controlling time-spaced executions, with optional waiting or skipping

🛠 Console Output Indicators

Icon Meaning
🔴 HOLDING. Waiting for a valid time window
🟡 QUEUING. Preparing to enter
🟢 DEQUEUE. Successfully entered the gate
FLYOVER. Skipped due to wait=False

These icons appear when display=True is enabled.


💡 Developer Note

I created this tool to manage multiple bots and scripts that needed to run in order or avoid conflicts, such as editing a shared log. The done() function sped things up when I did not want to wait, and active() allowed me to hold the gate when work was still ongoing. It is simple, fast, and avoids unnecessary complexity by using just the file system.


📜 License

All Rights Reserved — Permission Required

Copyright (c) 2025 [henry]

This software is provided for viewing and educational purposes only.

Any form of reuse, reproduction, modification, distribution, or inclusion in other projects or products (whether commercial or non-commercial) is strictly prohibited without the prior explicit written permission of the author.

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Copying the source code into another project
  • Reposting the code online or in packages
  • Creating modified versions or forks
  • Using the code in commercial tools, scripts, or libraries

To request permission, contact: [osas2henry@gmail.com]

By viewing or downloading this code, you agree to these terms.


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