potato.py

from optparse import OptionParser
parser = OptionParser()

parser.add_option("-n", "--number",
					dest="count", type='int',
					help="which potato am i")

parser.add_option("-x", "--exit",
					dest="exit", type='int',
					help="exit after this many logging cycles")

(options, args) = parser.parse_args()

potatocount = options.count or -1

print potatocount, "potatoes starting"
import sys
sys.stdout.flush()

import time
while options.exit:
	time.sleep(5)
	print potatocount, "potatoes here"
	sys.stdout.flush()
	options.exit = options.exit - 1


print potatocount, "potatoes finished"
sys.stdout.flush()
sys.exit(potatocount)