queues.py

import time
import multiprocessing.queues
from Queue import Empty

import futures

q = multiprocessing.queues.Queue()
N = 10000
M = 4
timeout = 1
pool = futures.ThreadPoolExecutor(M)


def feed(_i):
    for i in xrange(N):
        q.put(i)


def drain(_i):
    for _ in xrange(N):
        q.get()


def drain_nowait(_i):
    for _ in xrange(N):
        rs = None
        # Keep polling until we get something
        while rs is None:
            try:
                rs = q.get(False, timeout)
            except Empty:
                pass


t0 = time.time()
for r in pool.map(feed, xrange(M)):
    pass
t1 = time.time()
for r in pool.map(drain, xrange(M)):
    pass
t2 = time.time()

# Feed it again
for r in pool.map(feed, xrange(M)):
    pass
t3 = time.time()
for r in pool.map(drain_nowait, xrange(M)):
    pass
t4 = time.time()

print 'feed={} drain={} drain_nowait={}'.format(
    t1 - t0, t2 - t1, t4 - t3)

In version 2.7 How do you get futures?