How to continue the script while using the system()- command?

I am starting a python-script out of Matlab using the system()-command.

I would to check in a while loop if the script is still running and do something else while running. If it is not running anymore, I would like to break the while-loop and continue my Matlab script. However, it seems that the while loop starts when I already closed the python-script and not while the script is still running:

checkpython = 'pgrep python';

system('unset LD_LIBRARY_PATH;python3 MyPythonScript.py')

[status1,~] = system(checkpython);

while status1==0

[status,~] = system(checkpython);

%%% Doing something else here %%%

if status == 1

disp('Python closed')

break

end

end

How could I check while the python script is running if it is still running and do something else in that while-loop?

Thanks for your advice!

Best, Sophie

[Riccardo Scorretti]

In order to continue the execution of MATLAB while running the pyhton script, you could add an ampersand (&) to the end of the command.

As for checking if your python script terminated the execution, I cannot figure out any elegant solution. The "quick and dirty" method could be to make your script open a dummy file at the beginning, and delete it when he finishes; so you can check if the script is still running by checking the existance of that particular file.

Answer 1

[Sophie96]

Perfect, the ampersand was the solution I was looking for. Thanks!

[Riccardo Scorretti]

You're welcome