Generic tool template for ArcGIS commandline script

toolbox_template.py

# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name:         My tool
# Purpose:      TODO
#
# Author:       Jon Morris
#
# Created:      2017
# Copyright:    MY COMPANY 2017
# Licence:      ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced
# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

import arcpy


class LicenseError(Exception):
    pass


class MyTool(object):
    def __init__(self):
        """Define the tool (tool name is the name of the class)."""
        self.label = "My tool"
        self.description = "TODO"
        self.canRunInBackground = True
        arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True
        # arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Spatial")

    def isLicensed(self):
        """Set whether tool is licensed to execute."""
        # try:
        #     if arcpy.CheckExtension("Spatial") != "Available":
        #         raise LicenseError
        # except LicenseError:
        #     return False  # tool cannot be executed

        return True  # tool can be executed

    def execute(self):
        """The source code of the tool."""

        try:
            OUTWorkspace = arcpy.env.scratchGDB
            MyParam = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)

            arcpy.env.workspace = OUTWorkspace
            arcpy.env.extent = arcpy.Extent(-180.0, -90.0, 180.0, 90.0)

            arcpy.AddWarning('Generic warning')
            arcpy.SetParameter(1, MyParam)

            # Refresh Catalog

            arcpy.RefreshCatalog(OUTWorkspace)

        except Exception, e:
            arcpy.AddError(e.message)
        # finally:
        #     arcpy.CheckInExtension("Spatial")


if __name__ == '__main__':
    tool = MyTool()
    if tool.isLicensed():
        tool.execute()

Based on python toolbox, but intended to be run straight from command line. Results are not added to toolbox history though, see http://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/156628/saving-result-file-from-command-line-arcpy