How to detect if another Python script is running? - python

I'm fairly new to Python.
I'm running a python script on Linux named "locationGPIO2.py". I'm trying to write a separate script to monitor whether "locationGPIO2.py" is running at all times.
I want this separate script to basically be looping and checking if "locationGPIO2.py" is running, if it is, then do nothing, but if it is no longer running (either by user stopping the script or by crashing) then change a variable named 'heartbeat' to "Inactive".
I've been looking around for a solution for a while, but can't find anything that works. Could anybody help me implement this into my script?
Here's what I imagine the script should do:
ENTER CHECK IF SCRIPT IS RUNNING CODE HERE
If locationGPIO2.py is NOT running THEN:
heartbeat = "Inactive"
Else:
Do nothing

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http://supervisord.org/
An easier method might be the handle the failure within your script. If it is failing due to some exception, wrap the offending code in a try:except block and handle it gracefully within the script.
That said, this post has the information you need to use systemd to execute a BASH script:
https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/47695/how-to-write-startup-script-for-systemd
Within your script, you can easily run a python script and catch its return value (when it returns failure in your case) and react appropriately.
Something like this:
#!/bin/bash
python ~/path/to/my/script/myScript.py
if [ $? -ne 0 ] ; then #handle the failure here.
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