Thread names propagate to system

- the thread names should now show up in the monitoring tools of
operating systems (tested on linux)

src/bitmessagemain.py

@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ from network.downloadthread import DownloadThread
 # Helper Functions
 import helper_bootstrap
 import helper_generic
-from helper_threading import *
+import helper_threading
 
 
 def connectToStream(streamNumber):
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ def _fixSocket():
         socket.IPV6_V6ONLY = 27
 
 # This thread, of which there is only one, runs the API.
-class singleAPI(threading.Thread, StoppableThread):
+class singleAPI(threading.Thread, helper_threading.StoppableThread):
     def __init__(self):
         threading.Thread.__init__(self, name="singleAPI")
         self.initStop()
@@ -204,6 +204,8 @@ class Main:
 
         self.setSignalHandler()
 
+        helper_threading.set_thread_name("MainThread")
+
         helper_bootstrap.knownNodes()
         # Start the address generation thread
         addressGeneratorThread = addressGenerator()

src/helper_threading.py

@@ -1,4 +1,17 @@
 import threading
+try:
+    import prctl
+    def set_thread_name(name): prctl.set_name(name)
+
+    def _thread_name_hack(self):
+        set_thread_name(self.name)
+        threading.Thread.__bootstrap_original__(self)
+
+    threading.Thread.__bootstrap_original__ = threading.Thread._Thread__bootstrap
+    threading.Thread._Thread__bootstrap = _thread_name_hack
+except ImportError:
+    log('WARN: prctl module is not installed. You will not be able to see thread names')
+    def set_thread_name(name): pass
 
 class StoppableThread(object):
     def initStop(self):
@@ -7,4 +20,4 @@ class StoppableThread(object):
         
     def stopThread(self):
         self._stopped = True
-        self.stop.set()
+        self.stop.set()