Copy all pictures from iMessage on Mac to current folder

copy_images.py

# needs python 3.5+
import glob
import os

def sh_escape(s):
    return s.replace("(", "\\(").replace(")","\\)").replace(" ","\\ ")

home = '/Users/myusername'
glob_path = home + '/Library/Messages/Attachments/**/*'

files = []
for ext in ['png', 'jpeg', 'jpg']:
        print(glob_path + ext)
        files.extend(glob.glob(glob_path + ext, recursive=True))
        EXT = ext.upper()
        files.extend(glob.glob(glob_path + EXT, recursive=True))

for filename in files:
    cmd = 'cp -p {} .'.format(sh_escape(filename))
    os.system(cmd)

iMessage stores all images in subfolders of ~/Messages/Attachments. It's not meant to be user-facing, but it can be. I ran this script to back up all my images from past text messages before wiping my laptop.