A Python script to open a temporary file in the user's editor, echo its contents, and delete the file.

open_editor.py

# Jordan Orelli wrote it.
# Do what you want with it.
# June 9th, 2011

import os
import subprocess
import tempfile

if not os.environ.has_key('EDITOR'):
    raise Exception('Unable to open editor; please set your EDITOR '
                    'environment variable to point to your preferred '
                    'editor, e.g. "/usr/bin/vim" or simply "vim"')

editor = os.environ['EDITOR']
fd, filename = tempfile.mkstemp(text=True)
cmd = '%s %s' % (editor, filename)
write_status = subprocess.call(cmd, shell=True)

if write_status != 0:
    os.remove(filename)
    raise Exception("The editor returned a non-zero status "
                    "(that means it failed.)")

f = open(filename)
print f.read()
f.close()
os.remove(filename)