Little script I use to easily start a new Fastpages/Jekyll/Markdown blog entry

newpost.py

#! /usr/bin/env python

# Little script I use to start a new Markdown blog entry.
# Run from the parent directory above the blog directory,
# or supply a full path to run from anywhere.
#
# Usage:  newpost.py <title>
#  It automatically figures out what the current date is to
#  create a new entry, and supplies a default header with a title
#  and a bibliography placement

import datetime
import sys
import os
from pathlib import Path

# local directory name, or give full path to run from anywhere on system
blog_dir = "myblog"


assert len(sys.argv) > 1    # make sure the entry will have a title

# pack the command line args with dashes instead of spaces
title_str = '-'.join(sys.argv[1:])

# create the text file with the heading
filename = f'{blog_dir}/_posts/{datetime.date.today()}-{title_str}.md'
outfile = open(filename,"w")

title = ' '.join(sys.argv[1:])
home = str(Path.home())     # handy for helping typora display images

header = f'''---
title: "{title}"
description:
layout: post
toc: true
comments: true
image:
date: {datetime.datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")}
hide: false
search_exclude: false
typora-root-url: {home}
---

'''
outfile.write(header+'\n')

# Some optional info I like to keep track of, but you can delete
abspath = os.path.abspath(filename)
orig_link = f'[Direct Link to File](file://{abspath})'
words = '{{ page.content | number_of_words | minus: 26}} words,  {{ page.content | number_of_words  | divided_by: 180 | append: " minute read" }}'
pages = ', {{ page.content | number_of_words  | divided_by: 275 | append: " paperback pages" }}'
new_header = orig_link + '. ' + words + pages
outfile.write(new_header)

refs = '\n\n\n\n## References\n'
outfile.write(refs)

outfile.close()

# Immediately open the new file for editing in Typora
os.system(f'/usr/bin/typora {abspath}')