Virtual Pipe - Tool to show what was piped through

vp

#!/usr/bin/env python

import time
from sys import stdin, stdout, argv

try:
    from tkinter import *
except ImportError:
    from Tkinter import *

# parse args
keep_history = False
if "-h" in argv:
    keep_history = True

delay = 0
if "-t" in argv:
    delay = float(argv[argv.index("-t") + 1])

stay_alive = False
if "-a" in argv:
    stay_alive = True

if "--help" in argv:
    print("-h:    show history")
    print("-t x:  delays between each row")
    print("-a:    keeps window open (you have to cancel the command)")
    exit()

# setup window
tk = Tk()
tk.overrideredirect(1)
v = StringVar(value="")
lable = Label(tk, textvariable=v, justify=LEFT, borderwidth=2, relief="groove", font='TkFixedFont')

lable.pack(side=LEFT,padx=2, pady=2)

tk.lift()
tk.attributes("-topmost", True)

# process
history = ""
for x in stdin:
    stdout.write(x)
    stdout.flush()

    time.sleep(delay)

    if keep_history:
        history += x
        v.set(history)
    else:
        v.set(x.rstrip())
    tk.update()

if stay_alive:
    Button(tk, text="x", command=sys.exit).pack(side=LEFT)
    stdout.close()
    tk.mainloop()