code: def _ipc_send(self, sock, message_type, payload):
          '''
          Send and receive a message from the ipc.
          NOTE: this is not thread safe
          '''
          sock.sendall(self._pack(message_type, payload))
          data, msg_type = self._ipc_recv(sock)
          return datf _ipc_send(self, sock, message_type, payload):
          '''
          Send and receive a message from the ipc.
          NOTE: this is not thread safe
          '''
          sock.sendall(self._pack(message_type, payload))
          data, msg_type = self._ipc_recv(sock)
          return data
docs: Send and receive a message from the ipc.
          NOTE: this is not thread safe