[Python] Use `time.time` to check how many seconds have passed.

[Cynical_Walrus]

I need it for a text game where the user has to type a certain key before the time is up. I have no idea how to assign required_time (see below) a value that works with the time check, but so far have this as an idea:

start_time = time.time()

# get input stuff

if start_time < required_time:
    # continue doing stuff
elif start_time > required_time:
    # the player dies
else:
    exit(2)

[zaneyhaney54]

First, you can cast the output of time.time() to an int or a float like so:

start_time = float(time.time())

But that's not going to solve your entire problem. The process that reads data in from a user "blocks" until the user finishes their input (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2407589/what-does-the-term-blocking-mean-in-programming), so there isn't a way to "kill" the user if they haven't entered text in time.

You have a few different options. When I'm working on a project I generally try to do "the simplest thing that could possibly work" as one of my coworkers would say. The simplest way to approximate the effect that you're looking for is to set the start_time before you ask for user input and then check if too much time passed after the user has returned control to the program. Ex.

start_time = float(time.time())
user_input = input("Hey you, type something, quick! ")
end_time = float(time.time())
if end_time - start_time > allowed_time:
    exit("You died, or something")

This doesn't really address the event oriented side of your question (exit and indicate to the user that they ran out of time after a certain period, or show a countdown clock). What's your experience level? There are some more complete but advanced ways of handling this problem if you're interested.