hackernews_notify.py

"""
  A python script to notify on hackernews changes using pySnarl (win32)
  author: joebo
  
  I found myself checking HN throughout the day while working and would
  spend a few minutes each time skimming to see if there was anything new.
  This automated the task for me and I thought it might be useful to share.
  It's meant to be quick and dirty but works.

  get pysnarl from http://code.google.com/p/pysnarl/
  thanks to ihackernews for the api (checks every 120 seconds)
 
  change url to http://api.ihackernews.com/new if you want the new items
"""

import urllib2
import PySnarl 
import time
import string

def printable(input):
  return filter(lambda x: x in string.printable, input)

seen = set()
firstRun = True

while True:
  
  json = "".join(urllib2.urlopen('http://api.ihackernews.com/page').readlines())
  
  try:
    items = eval(json)["items"]
  except:
    print items
  else:
    for item in items:
      title = printable(item["title"])
      
      if not firstRun and not item["id"] in seen:    
        PySnarl.snShowMessage('HackerNews', title, timeout=10)
        print title
      
      seen.add(item["id"])
      
    firstRun = False
  
  time.sleep(120)