gistfile1.rb

def run_in_terminal(cmd, title, background=[0,0,0])
    # see http://www.nach-vorne.de/2007/11/22/terminal-trick
    # and http://onrails.org/articles/2007/11/28/scripting-the-leopard-terminal
    # and http://blog.cbciweb.com/articles/2008/05/02/scripting-mac-terminal-using-ruby
    begin
      puts yellow("!> #{cmd}")
      term = app('Terminal')
      term.activate()
      current_window = term.windows.first
      old_tab = current_window.selected_tab.get()

      tab = find_terminal_tab(background)
      unless tab
        app("System Events").application_processes["Terminal.app"].keystroke("t", :using => :command_down)
        tab = current_window.tabs.last
      end
      term.do_script(cmd, :in => tab)
      tab.background_color.set(background)
      tab.title_displays_custom_title.set(true)
      tab.custom_title.set(title)
      current_window.selected_tab.set(old_tab)
      sleep 0.1
    rescue
      die "OSX command failed"
    end
end

def find_terminal_tab(color)
  term = app('Terminal')
  term.windows.get.each do |win|
    begin
      win.tabs.get.each do |tab|
        return tab if color == tab.background_color.get()
      end
    rescue
    end
  end
  nil
end