Act upon media keys in a Mac under OSX

mediakeys.py

#!/usr/bin/python

import subprocess

# PyObjC-related imports
from AppKit import NSApplication, NSSystemDefined
from PyObjCTools import AppHelper


KEY_UP = 11


class KeySocketApp(NSApplication):

    repeated = False

    def sendEvent_(self, event):
        if event.type() is NSSystemDefined and event.subtype() is 8:
            data = event.data1()
            keyCode = (data & 0xFFFF0000) >> 16
            keyFlags = (data & 0x0000FFFF)
            keyState = (keyFlags & 0xFF00) >> 8
            keyRepeat = keyFlags & 0x1

            if keyRepeat and keyState is not KEY_UP:
                if keyCode == 20:
                    self.repeated = True
                    print "prev"
                    subprocess.call(['cmus-remote', '-k', '-10'])
                elif keyCode == 19:
                    self.repeated = True
                    print "forward"
                    subprocess.call(['cmus-remote', '-k', '+10'])

            if keyState is KEY_UP:
                if self.repeated:
                    self.repeated = False
                elif keyCode == 20:
                    print "PREV"
                    subprocess.call(['cmus-remote', '-r'])
                elif keyCode == 16:
                    print "PLAY"
                    subprocess.call(['cmus-remote', '-u'])
                elif keyCode == 19:
                    print "FORWARD"
                    subprocess.call(['cmus-remote', '-n'])


if __name__ == '__main__':
    app = KeySocketApp.sharedApplication()
    AppHelper.runEventLoop()

To disable ITunes when pressing the media keys: http://forums.macgeneration.com/mac-os-x/patch-pour-les-touches-play-pause-sous-snow-leopard-300962.html

I've been looking for a way to make my MacBook's media keys not worthless. This is perfect! Thanks. ^_^

You can add the line

app.setActivationPolicy_(NSApplicationActivationPolicyProhibited)

just before line 51 and import NSApplicationActivationPolicyProhibited from AppKit to get rid of that useless dock icon! Credit to Albert on StackOverflow.

All of the uses of is and is not in this script should be == and !=; is tests for object identity which happens to work for small integer values which are pre-created and reused.