simple python script that prints the frontmost (aka focused) app

frontapp.py

#!/usr/bin/python                                                                                                       

# references
#  https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appkit/nsworkspace
#  https://bmn.name/post/2016/05/28/current-osx-app/
#  https://stackoverflow.com/questions/28815863/how-to-get-active-window-title-using-python-in-mac
#  https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/123730/is-there-a-way-to-detect-what-program-is-stealing-focus-on-my-mac/

try:
	from AppKit import NSWorkspace
except ImportError:
	print "can't import AppKit -- maybe you're running python from homebrew?"
	print "try running with /usr/bin/python instead"
	exit(1)

from datetime import datetime
from time import sleep

last_active_name = None
while True:
	active_app = NSWorkspace.sharedWorkspace().activeApplication()
	if active_app:
		if active_app['NSApplicationName'] != last_active_name:
			last_active_name = active_app['NSApplicationName']
			print '%s: [%s] %s (%s)' % (
				datetime.now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S'),
				active_app['NSApplicationProcessIdentifier'],
				active_app['NSApplicationPath'],
				active_app['NSApplicationName']
			)
	else:
		if last_active_name:
			print '%s: %s' % (
				datetime.now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S'),
				'*** no active app ***'
			)
			last_active_name = None
	sleep(0.05)