Summary

• OS: all
• Type: new-api

Description

I'm using psutil in an asyncio-based scheduler and would benefit from async versions of some Process methods. Currently, I have to wrap blocking calls like process.wait() using asyncio.to_thread() or run them in a background thread, which adds overhead and complexity.

Requested async methods

1. Process.async_wait() - Asynchronously wait for process termination. Currently Process.wait() blocks the calling thread. An async version would allow efficient waiting in asyncio event loops without consuming a thread.
2. Process.async_is_running() - Asynchronously check if process is running. While is_running() is typically fast, an async version would allow it to be used consistently in async contexts without blocking the event loop.

Current workaround

  import asyncio
  import psutil
  async def wait_for_process(pid: int) -> int:
      process = psutil.Process(pid)
      return await asyncio.to_thread(process.wait)

This works but requires a thread from the thread pool for each waiting process.

Proposed API

  import psutil
  async def example():
      process = psutil.Process(pid)
      # Wait for process to finish
      exit_code = await process.async_wait()
      # Check if running (for consistency in async code)
      is_running = await process.async_is_running()

Would you consider inclusion of such async methods in psutil (I can submit a PR)? Or is it out of scope?