Open-source Halloween! Here's a spooky light show. Just `pip install blessings` and then run the script in any terminal. At the moment, it rotates between lightning-like flashes in various colors and gentle gradient pulsing. Put it in a window with the blinds down, and it diffuses nicely. Laptops are bright! Contribute your own effects in the co…

lights.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
from itertools import chain
import random
from random import randint
from time import sleep, time

from blessings import Terminal


t = Terminal()


# Gradients of various hues, in darkest-to-brightest order:
gradients = [[t.on_color(x) for x in 16, 22, 28, 34, 40, 46],
             [t.on_color(x) for x in 0, 19, 20, 21, 27, 33, 39, 45, 51],
             [t.on_color(x) for x in 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 63, 69, 75, 81]]


def paint_screen(color):
    with t.location(0, 0):
        print color('\n'.join((' ' * t.width) for h in xrange(t.height + 1))),


def fade_effect():
    colors = random.choice(gradients)
    delay = random.choice([.04, .06])
    while True:
        for color in chain(colors, reversed(colors)):
            paint_screen(color)
            sleep(delay)
        yield


def flash_effect():
    color = random.choice([t.on_color(c) for c in 46, 27] + [t.on_bright_red])
    while True:
        sleep(randint(3, 5))
        for _ in xrange(randint(2, 5)):
            paint_screen(color)
            sleep(0.1)
            paint_screen(t.on_black)
            sleep(randint(1, 5) / 10.0)
        yield


def make_timer(duration):
    start = time()
    def time_is_up():
        return time() - start >= duration
    return time_is_up


def main():
    effects = [v for k, v in globals().iteritems() if k.endswith('_effect')]
    while True:
        paint_screen(t.on_black)
        effect = random.choice(effects)()
        time_is_up = make_timer(randint(8, 8))
        while not time_is_up():
            next(effect)


if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()