timelapse.py

import time
import sys
import vlc
from datetime import datetime


def main(rtsp_stream, period=1, output='snapshot%s.png'):
    player = vlc.MediaPlayer(rtsp_stream)
    player.play()
    time.sleep(5)
    while True:
        filename = (output % str(datetime.now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S'))).replace(' ', '')
        player.video_take_snapshot(0, filename, 0, 0)
        time.sleep(period)


if __name__ == '__main__':
    if len(sys.argv) == 4:
        main(sys.argv[1], period=sys.argv[2], output=sys.argv[3])
    if len(sys.argv) == 3:
        main(sys.argv[1], period=sys.argv[2])
    if len(sys.argv) == 2:
        main(sys.argv[1])