Switcht to previous workspace

lw.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
import gtk
import wnck
import time
import sys

LW_FILE_PATH = '/tmp/lw'

def workspace_active_changed(screen, previous):
    if not previous:
        return
    ws_id = previous.get_number()
    set_previous(ws_id)

def get_previous():
    ws_id = -1
    with open(LW_FILE_PATH, 'r') as lw_file:
        ws_id = int(lw_file.read())
    print "Previous workspace was %s" % ws_id
    return ws_id
        
def set_previous(ws_id):
    print "Setting to previous workspace %s" % ws_id
    with open(LW_FILE_PATH, 'w') as lw_file:
        lw_file.write(str(ws_id))

def server():
    screen = wnck.screen_get_default()
    screen.connect('active-workspace-changed', workspace_active_changed)
    gtk.main()

def client():
    ws_id = get_previous()
    screen = wnck.screen_get_default()
    screen.force_update()
    ws = screen.get_workspace(ws_id)
    if ws:
        ws_act_id = screen.get_active_workspace().get_number()
        ws.activate(int(time.time()))
        if ws_act_id != ws_id:
            set_previous(ws_act_id)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    if len(sys.argv) < 2 or sys.argv[1] == 'client':
        client()
    elif sys.argv[1] == 'server':
        server()
    else:
        print "Arguments not recognized: %s" % ' '.join(sys.argv[1:])

REAME.md

Switch to previous workspace

1. Start the server.

 $ python lw.py server

2. Bind a shortcut to python lw.py client.

That's all