Multiprocessing process termination

[Charles Hixson]

In order to allow multiple processes to access a database (currently 
SQLite) I want to run the process in a separate thread.  Because it will 
be accessed from multiple processes I intent to use Queues for shifting 
messages back and forth.  But none of the individuals processes will 
know when all of the others are through.  It there a way to properly 
close the database, or does it need to be done from the parent process?

What I want to do is detect that a request to shutdown the Process has 
been received, and then execute a close procedure that cleans things up 
and shutdown.  Terminate is the obvious procedure to use, but that comes 
with a warning not to use it if there is an queue attached (and without 
defining attached).
OTOH, since the queue will never be read after the process has been 
shutdown, perhaps rendering it unusable is the proper thing.

Could someone comment on this step of the design?

The basic idea is:

class handledb(Process):
    def __init__(self, q, otherstuff):
        self.q  =  q

   def run(self, msg):
      while (true):
          if  self.q.empty():
              sleep(someamountoftime)
          else:
              while (not self.q.empty()):
                    read and parse message
                    if message says to shutdown:  self.shutdown()

   def  shutdown(self):
         close things down
         ?? terminate ??                    <<-- should this be done 
while q is live?