Switch virtual desktops in Windows 10 with hot corners

cycle_virtual_desktops.py

"""

Toggle between all virtual desktops.

Usage:

    $ python cycle_virtualdesktops.py
    $ python cycle_virtualdesktops.py left

# Installation

This describes a way to setup hot corners (aka active corners) on Windows 10
that can be used to switch to the next available virtual desktop quickly.

## Steps

1. Download cycle_virtual_desktops.py
2. Compile it to an .exe file using PyInstaller:
  - (Inside a virtualenv do) $ pip install pyinstaller
  - (Inside a virtualenv do) $ pyinstaller cycle_virtual_desktops.py
3. Make sure the resulting cycle_virtual_desktops.exe is available via PATH
   (I can recommend RapidEnvironmentEditor to set that up)
4. Install and compile VirtualDesktop.exe as described at: https://github.com/MScholtes/VirtualDesktop
5. Make sure the VirtualDesktop.exe is available via PATH
6. Install and run WinXCorners: https://github.com/vhanla/winxcorners
7. Go to 'Advanced Options' of WinXCorners and configure a custom command: cycle_virtual_desktops.exe
8. Add that custom command to any hot corners as you wish. Done!

"""

import subprocess
import sys

VIRTUALDESKTOP_BINARY = "VirtualDesktop.exe"


def run_command(*options):
    # Configure subprocess to hide the console window.
    startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
    startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW

    return subprocess.call(options, startupinfo=startupinfo)


def cycle_virtual_desktops(direction):
    desktops_count = run_command(VIRTUALDESKTOP_BINARY, "/Count")
    current_desktop_id = run_command(VIRTUALDESKTOP_BINARY, "/GetCurrentDesktop")
    if direction == "right":
        next_desktop_id = (
            0 if current_desktop_id == desktops_count - 1 else current_desktop_id + 1
        )
    elif direction == "left":
        next_desktop_id = (
            desktops_count - 1 if current_desktop_id == 0 else current_desktop_id - 1
        )
    run_command(VIRTUALDESKTOP_BINARY, f"/Switch:{next_desktop_id}")


if __name__ == "__main__":
    args = sys.argv[1:]
    try:
        direction = args[0]
        assert direction in ("left", "right")
    except (IndexError, AssertionError):
        direction = "right"
    cycle_virtual_desktops(direction)