pythonmultiple-instanceskali-linux

How to count how many instances of a program are running in the system using python


I would like to know how I can count how many instances of a program are running in the system using python.

For example: if my terminal is open 3 "times", and there are 3 instances of the terminal, how could I count them using python ?

Thanks in advance


Solution

  • This problem is fairly very straightforward if one uses the psutil package in python3

    Consider the code snippet below.

    import psutil
    from collections import Counter
    
    process_ctr = Counter()
    
    for process in psutil.process_iter():
        try:
            process_cmd_list = process.cmdline()
            for p in process_cmd_list:
                process_ctr[p] += 1
        except Exception:
            continue
    
    for pname, cnt in process_ctr.items():
        print(pname, cnt)
    

    Upon running this code, one will get the process name and count printed to stdout

    Testing: I opened 3 terminals and I noticed this in the O/P: -bash 3

    Sample O/P:

    --pdf-renderer 2
    --js-flags=--jitless 2
    --renderer-client-id=657 1
    --launch-time-ticks=75930041264 1
    --renderer-client-id=658 1
    --launch-time-ticks=76065123981 1
    --seatbelt-client=151 4
    --renderer-client-id=659 1
    --launch-time-ticks=76065777110 1
    --renderer-client-id=663 1
    --launch-time-ticks=76077686392 1
    --renderer-client-id=100 1
    --launch-time-ticks=1656826210 1
    --renderer-client-id=665 1
    --launch-time-ticks=76250675532 1
    --seatbelt-client=168 11
    --renderer-client-id=666 1
    --launch-time-ticks=76252057630 1
    -bash 3
    /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreFollowUp.framework/Versions/A/Support/followupd 1
    /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/PhotoAnalysis.framework/Versions/A/Support/photoanalysisd 1
    /System/Library/CoreServices/ScopedBookmarkAgent 1
    --renderer-client-id=672 1
    --launch-time-ticks=76542560240 1
    --renderer-client-id=676 1
    --launch-time-ticks=76557205901 1
    

    Note:

    1. The try, catch is needed as psutil cannot access some process details, as they are owned by the kernel.

    Based on user feedback, adding some neat code, just to get the count for the process of interest.

    import psutil
    from collections import Counter
    
    process_ctr = Counter()
    
    def get_process_count(pname):
        for process in psutil.process_iter():
            try:
                process_cmd_list = process.cmdline()
                for p in process_cmd_list:
                    process_ctr[p] += 1
            except Exception:
                continue
    
        for p, cnt in process_ctr.items():
            if pname in p:
                return cnt
    
    if __name__ == '__main__':
        cnt = get_process_count('qterminal')
        print(f"The cnt is:{cnt}")