time.strptime function throwing error when in threaded mode
multithreading, python
Solution
Apparently there is a bug when running `time.strptime()` function in threaded mode in python 2.6 all the way to 3.2. I found an SO link which directed me to bugs.python.org which indicates the bug.
The hack as per @interjay on the SO link is that you require to call time.strptime() before you initialize your threads. So far it is working for me. Don't know if someone has a better solution as this feels more like a workaround than a solution.
Problem
I have a python function that works okay in "normal" mode but throws an error when I run it in a threaded function. Function ``` def is_valid_date(date_value, is_mandatory): '''validate a date value. Return True if its a valid date http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2216250/how-can-i-validate-a-date-in-python-3-x ''' try: if is_mandatory == True: if len(date_value) != 8: return False y = date_value[0:4] m = date_value[4:6] d = date_value[6:8] date_value = d + "/" + m + "/" + y date_value = time.strptime(date_value, '%d/%m/%Y') return True else: if len(date_value) > 0: if len(date_value) != 8: return False y = date_value[0:4] m = date_value[4:6] d = date_value[6:8] date_value = d + "/" + m + "/" + y date_value = time.strptime(date_value, '%d/%m/%Y') return True else: return True except ValueError: return False ``` Error: ``` Exception in thread Thread-1: Traceback (most recent call last): File "/usr/lib/python3.2/threading.py", line 740, in _bootstrap_inner self.run() File "/home/lukik/apps/myapp/data_file/validate.py", line 97, in run is_valid, text_returned = is_valid_data_type(self.myText, dt_columns[colCounter].data_type, dt_columns[colCounter].mandatory) File "/home/lukik/apps/myapp/helper.py", line 27, in is_valid_data_type if is_valid_date(text_to_check, is_mandatory) != True: File "/home/lukik/apps/myapp/helper.py", line 91, in is_valid_date date_value = time.strptime(date_value, '%d/%m/%Y') AttributeError: _strptime_time ``` Is it the date function that has an error or is this a "race condition" in my queuing and threading function?