[Tutor] pass argument into running program *outside* of program

[Alan Gauld]

"Alan Gauld" <alan.gauld at btinternet.com> wrote

>> $ program.py addMe <username> <var2>
> 
> create the server with a socket that listens for clients on a port
> create a client that talks to the socket via that port.
> 

Other options, cruder but arguably simpler, involve 
sharing a database and using one table for input and another 
for output. The server polls the input table and writes output to
the output table, the clients write requests into the input table 
and read their results out from the output table.

This is surprisingly efficient and scaleable, I've had servers 
handling several hundred simultaneous clients using this 
scheme. Its very good where reliability and resiliance are 
important because even if the machine goes dowen the clients 
and servers can restart and pick up where they left off.

Just a thought...

Alan G.