spinner.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
# Like sleep(1), but shows a spinner while waiting.

import time
import sys

CHARS = '/-\\|'


def spin(delay):
    """Spin the spinner for `delay` seconds."""
    i = 0
    deadline = time.time() + delay
    while time.time() < deadline:
        print "\r" + CHARS[i],
        sys.stdout.flush()
        i = (i + 1) % len(CHARS)
        time.sleep(0.1)

    print "\r \r",


if __name__ == '__main__':
    spin(int(sys.argv[1]))