[python-win32] How to determine whether program running as service?

[Mark Hammond]

> What's the canonical way to programmatically determine whether a
> pywin32-based Python program is running as a Windows service or as a
> regular process?

I don't see one :(  I would be happy to add one  - eg, sys.serviceexecutable
being set to the host executable when launched as a service.  That doesn't
help you now though.

Hmmm - actually:
is_service = 'servicemanager' in sys.modules

before your import of servicemanager would work - the framework imports this
module before your module.  However, that is ugly and just as error prone as
catching the import error was.  I agree something canonical and simple would
be good.


> Examining the name of the executable (sys.executable) won't work,
> because Python services don't require that PythonService.exe host them
> (a py2exe-fied service is a good example of a situation in which one
> might not want to use PythonService.exe).

And indeed PythonService.exe may die in later versions - python.exe could
host services directly.  That change was made specifically so py2exe can
handle services.

Mark.