python - The loop gods strike again - How to keep socket connected despite GUI mainloop?

Question

Question

How to run the Tkinter mainloop and an infinite server loop simultaneously, in the same script?

Background

I am in the process of creating a GUI server in Tkinter (Python 2.7.3). So far, the GUI works correctly, the Server works correctly, but I am having issues integrating the two. As far as I know (correct me if I am wrong) the server needs to be running on an infinite loop to accept new users. Sadly, the GUI also needs an infinite loop. I am wondering how to have both loops running at the same time.

My current mainloop function looks like this (s is the socket object):

def mainloop(s):
    while True:
        channel, addr = s.accept()
        print "Connected with", addr

That is obviously needed to keep the server running (I think.) The issue though, is that this loop comes before my mainloop and thus I have problems with that. If I do it the other way around, the Server is never opened.

Full Code

My server code is here, and my client is here.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Use the thread module to open your server mainloop in a new thread.

Replace

mainloop(s)

with

thread.start_new_thread(mainloop, (s,))

Then you can call root.mainloop() to run Tkinter, just like you did.

---

UPDATE

Per A. Rodas' comment below, it's preferred to use the newer threading module which is compatible with Python 3.

so you can replace

mainloop(s)

with

threading.Thread(target=mainloop, args=(s,)).start()