Problems interrupting a python Input (Mac) - macos

Question

I am trying to allow a user to input multiple answers but only within an allocated amount of time. The problem is I have it running but the program will not interrupt the input. The program will only stop the user from inputing if the user inputs an answer after the time ends. Any ideas? Is what I am trying to do even possible in python?
I have tried using threading and the signal module however they both result in the same issue.
Using Signal:
import signal
def handler(signum, frame):
raise Exception
def answer_loop():
score = 0
while True:
answer = input("Please input your answer")
signal.signal(signal.SIGALRM, handler)
signal.alarm(5)
try:
answer_loop()
except Exception:
print("end")
signal.alarm(0)
Using Threading:
from threading import Timer
def end():
print("Time is up")
def answer_loop():
score = 0
while True:
answer = input("Please input your answer")
time_limit = 5
t = Timer(time_limit, end)
t.start()
answer_loop()
t.cancel()

Answer 1

Your problem is that builtin input does not have a timeout parameter and, AFAIK, threads cannot be terminated by other threads. I suggest instead that you use a GUI with events to finely control user interaction. Here is a bare bones tkinter example.
import tkinter as tk
root = tk.Tk()
label = tk.Label(root, text='answer')
entry = tk.Entry(root)
label.pack()
entry.pack()
def timesup():
ans = entry.get()
entry.destroy()
label['text'] = f"Time is up. You answered {ans}"
root.after(5000, timesup)
root.mainloop()