gistfile1.py

#!/usr/bin/python

import logging
import subprocess
import threading
import time

from contextlib import contextmanager

FORMAT = '%(asctime)-15s %(message)s'
logging.basicConfig(format=FORMAT)
LOG = logging.getLogger('tcpserver')

@contextmanager
def watch(logger, action, level=logging.DEBUG, after=5.0):
    start = time.time()

    def log():
        msg = "%s timed out after %0.3fs" % (action, time.time() - start)
        logger.log(level, msg)
    timer = threading.Timer(after, log)
    timer.start()
    yield
    timer.cancel()

with watch(LOG, "subprocess call", logging.ERROR):
    subprocess.call("sleep 10", shell=True)
    print "foo"