multiprocessing - Is looping and blocking on recv the best way to handle a long-lived process in python? -

i have set of long-lived process expensive setup want push bank of worker processes doing work parallel. each worker different, building different parts of our database. shut down workers , rebuild them, every 4 hours or so.

the python examples i've seen multiprocessing module seem all-the-same, short-lived processes 1 thing once , exit.

here's sample came distributing work bank of all-different, long-lived workers.

is on track, or there better way this?

class worker(process):      def __init__(self):         process.__init__(self)  # ...or super         self.parent_side, self.pipe = pipe()      def do_super_slow_initialization(self):         print 'all work , no play makes jack dull boy'      def run(self):         self.do_super_slow_initialization()          while true:             message = self.pipe.recv()              if not message:                 break              self.pipe.send({'message': message,                             'pid': os.getpid(),                             'ppid': os.getppid()                             })          self.pipe.close()   def main():     print '+++ (parent)', os.getpid(), os.getppid()      workers = [worker() _ in xrange(10)]      # start workers     w in workers:         w.start()      # bunch of messages through     x in xrange(10):          # send message each worker         y, w in enumerate(workers):             w.parent_side.send('work%s_%s' % (x, y))          # results         w in workers:             print w.parent_side.recv()      # shut down     w in workers:         w.parent_side.send(none)         w.join()