autolk

autolk is a Python library designed to automate the process of locking and unlocking files. It provides a simple and convenient way to manage file locks, ensuring that only one process can access and modify a file at a time. This is particularly useful in scenarios where multiple applications or threads might attempt to read or write to the same file concurrently, potentially leading to data corruption or race conditions.

The library offers a straightforward API for acquiring and releasing file locks. Users can specify a file path and a timeout duration. If the file is already locked, autolk will wait for the specified timeout period for the lock to be released. If the lock is not acquired within the timeout, an exception is raised, allowing the application to handle the situation gracefully.

autolk supports different locking mechanisms depending on the underlying operating system. On POSIX systems, it typically uses the `fcntl` system call, while on Windows, it leverages the `LockFileEx` function. This cross-platform compatibility makes it a versatile tool for developers working in diverse environments.

The primary use case for autolk is to prevent data corruption in shared file access scenarios. For instance, in a multi-user system or a distributed application, ensuring exclusive access to configuration files, log files, or data files is crucial for maintaining data integrity. By using autolk, developers can easily implement these locking mechanisms without needing to delve into the complexities of low-level operating system primitives. The library aims to provide a robust yet easy-to-use solution for file locking in Python applications.