Why is my Python script consuming so much CPU?

Step 1: Identify the Problem
First, you need to identify the specific part of your Python script that is consuming a lot of CPU. You can do this by using a Python profiler. A Python profiler will help you identify the parts of your script that are taking the most time to execute.

Step 2: Use a Python Profiler
There are several Python profilers available, but a popular one is cProfile. To use cProfile, you can simply import it at the top of your script and then run your script with the profiler. Here's an example:

import cProfile

def my_function():
    # Your code here

cProfile.run('my_function()')

This will output a list of all the functions called during the execution of your script, along with the time taken for each function.

Step 3: Analyze the Output
Look at the output from the profiler and identify the functions that are taking the most time. These are likely the functions that are consuming the most CPU.

Step 4: Optimize Your Code
Once you've identified the problematic functions, you can start optimizing your code. This could involve using more efficient algorithms, reducing the number of function calls, or reducing the amount of data being processed.

Step 5: Test Your Changes
After making changes, run your script again with the profiler to see if the CPU usage has decreased. If not, you may need to make further optimizations.

Step 6: Use Other Tools
If you're still having trouble, there are other tools you can use to analyze CPU usage, such as the psutil library in Python, or system tools like top on Linux or Activity Monitor on macOS.

Remember, optimizing code can be a complex process and it's often a trade-off between speed and readability. Always make sure your code is still clear and understandable after optimization.