Starts a timer. Useful for tea or cooking.

timer.py

#!/usr/bin/python
# -*- coding: iso-8859-1 -*-
__version__ = "$Revision: 0.1$"
__author__ = "Nicolas Seriot"
__date__ = "2005-01-16"

""""
Her: Would you count 2 minutes and a half plase?
Me : $ timer 2 30

Starts a timer. Useful for tea or cooking.

Uses the curses library. Lets you set the meal. With Mac OS X >= 10.4, the script pronounces a vocal alert.
""""

import sys
import curses
import time
import os

if len(sys.argv) < 3:
    script_name = str(sys.argv[0].split(os.sep)[-1:])[2:-2]
    print "usage : " + script_name + " <minutes> <seconds> [meal]"
    sys.exit()

def main(stdscr):

    rootwin = stdscr.derwin(0, 0, 0, 0)
    stdscr.nodelay(1) # don't wait for input
    
    delay = int(sys.argv[1]) * 60 + int(sys.argv[2])
    meal = " ".join(sys.argv[3:])
    
    if meal == "":
        meal = "Tea"
    
    while delay > 0:
        m = delay / 60
        s = delay % 60
    
        chaine = meal + " will be ready in " + \
                 str(m).zfill(2) + ":" + str(s).zfill(2)
        stdscr.addstr(0,0,str(chaine))
        stdscr.refresh()
        
        time.sleep(1)
        delay -= 1

        c = stdscr.getch()
        if c == ord('q'):
            sys.exit()

    stdscr.clear()
    chaine = meal + " is ready!"
    stdscr.addstr(0,0,str(chaine), curses.A_BOLD)
    stdscr.refresh()    
    
    if sys.platform == "darwin":
        os.system("say \"" + meal + " is ready!\"")
    else:
        curses.beep()

    stdscr.nodelay(0)
    c = stdscr.getch()

curses.wrapper(main)