Use python signals to enforce a user input timeout

input_timeout.py

#!/usr/bin/env python

import sys
import signal

timeout = 5  # Timeout in seconds


def handle_timeout(signum, frame):
    raise TimeoutError("Input timed out!")


def message(name="world"):
    return f"\nHello, {name}!"


def main():
    signal.signal(signal.SIGALRM, handle_timeout)       # Set the signal handler

    if len(sys.argv) > 1:
        name = sys.argv[1]
        print(message(name))
    else:
        try:
            signal.alarm(timeout)                       # Set the alarm
            name = input("Please enter your name: ")
            signal.alarm(0)                             # Disable the alarm
            print(message(name))
        except TimeoutError:
            print(message("stranger"))


if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()