Python profiling decorator

decorator.py

from cProfile import Profile
import pstats


def profile(sort_args=['cumulative'], print_args=[10]):
    profiler = Profile()

    def decorator(fn):
        def inner(*args, **kwargs):
            result = None
            try:
                result = profiler.runcall(fn, *args, **kwargs)
            finally:
                stats = pstats.Stats(profiler)
                stats.strip_dirs().sort_stats(*sort_args).print_stats(*print_args)
            return result
        return inner
    return decorator

example.py

"""
Python decorator for profiling a function using cProfile. Stats are output to wherever print statements would 
normally go to, e.g. stdout or a log file. Can be used with Django view functions.

pstats' sort and print arguments can be supplied to the decorator. The default is to sort cumulatively and 
list to first 10 lines.

See http://docs.python.org/library/profile.html#instant-user-s-manual for details on pstats sort and print arguments.

cProfile is a standard module in most python distributions. pstats is also in many but not all. If pstats doesn't
import then install the module via the python-profiler package. E.g. on apt-based systems:
sudo apt-get install python-profiler
"""

# Example without profiling arguments:

@profile():
def my_function(my_args):
    pass

# Example with profiling arguments:

@profile(sort_args=['cumulative', 'name'], print_args=[.5, 'init']):
def my_function(my_args):
    pass