Python Repeat an algorithm exactly every 5th minute of the hour

Question

I need to write a Python code in order to repeat a trading algorithm exactly every fith minute of the hour. All the solutions that I tried as for example Sleep() will sum machine time, and this is not what I want.

I need to preserve state between calls, ... I want the algorithm to run exactly every 5 minutes (for example 14:00; 14:05; 14:10; 14:15......). The algorithm (retriving the data and cruncing the numbers) itself takes approximatly 12 seconds to be executed. If the computer is suspended I will skip the iteration.

Answer 1

EDIT

According to your comment: "I want the algorithm to run exactly every 5 minutes (for example 14:00; 14:05; 14:10; 14:15......)."

using datetime and infinite loop:

import time
import datetime

while True:
    if datetime.datetime.now().minute % 5 == 0: 
        #do algorithm
    time.sleep(60)

Answer 2

You could use a cron job for that if you work in a linux environment. Open the cron tab by

crontab -e

The following will start a python script cronjob.py every 5th minute of an hour:

5 * * * * python /path/to/script/cronjob.py

edit: since op specified "want the algorithm to run exactly every 5 minutes":

*/5 * * * * python /path/to/script/cronjob.py

Answer 3

import time

while True:
    time.sleep(300 - time.time() % 300)
    crunch_numbers()

crunch_numbers() is called on 5 minute boundaries defined by time.time() clock.