How to set max execution time in PHP CLI

Question

I know that PHP CLI is usually used because of none time limits and primary because it is not using Apache threads/processes.

But is there any way how to explicitly set the max_execution_time for some scripts which i don't want to have the freedom of "unlimited time" and just want to keep those script under control?

Any help?

Answer 1

Hello,

set_time_limit() works in CLI scripts.

<?php 
set_time_limit(1); //in seconds
for (;;);
?>

After one second returns with the following error message:

PHP Fatal error:  Maximum execution time of 1 second exceeded in \
/home/stivlo/test.php on line 4

Initially I tried with sleep() and the time limit doesn't get applied. As @Jon suggested, using a real computation, like an infinite loop works.

Hope it helps!!