python multiprocessing - access the process name inside the function called with Process.start(target=func)

Question

I am playing around with python multiprocessing module and wanted to be able to display the name of the currently executing process.

If I create a custom MyProcess class inheriting from multiprocessing.Process I can print the process's name in the following way

from multiprocessing import Process

class MyProcess(Process):
   def __init__(self):
        Process.__init__(self)

   def run(self):
        #do something nasty and print the name
        print self.name

p = MyProcess()
p.start()

However if I am creating processes using the constructor of Process class

from multiprocessing import Process
def somefunc():
    print Process.name                 #1

p = Process(target=somefunc)
p.start()
print p.name                           #2

#2 works but #1 doesn't. Is there a way I could print the name of the currently executing process inside somefunc?

Solution 1

You can use the current_process function:

from multiprocessing import Process, current_process

def somefunc():
    print current_process().name

if __name__ == '__main__':
    p = Process(target=somefunc)
    p.start()
    print p.name

Solution 2

Instead of passing target argument, override the run method. From there, you can invoke someFunc and pass the process object to it.

The name is not an OS level concept. It is Python level and it is not automatic that the process you execute in even has a Process object anywhere.