readinput.py

#!/usr/bin/env python

# inspired by http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5060710/format-of-dev-input-event

import struct
from argparse import ArgumentParser

if __name__ == '__main__':
  p = ArgumentParser()
  p.description = 'Read events from /dev/input and print them to console. Must be run as root.'
  p.add_argument("--source", default="/dev/input/event0", help="specify source (entry in /dev/input/*; default is event0)")
  args = p.parse_args()
  with open(args.source, 'r') as source:
    index = 0
    event_format = "llHHI"
    event_len = struct.calcsize(event_format)
    event = source.read(event_len)
    while event:
      (tv_sec, tv_usec, evt_type, code, value) = struct.unpack(event_format, event)
      print "%4d %8u %8u %8u" % (index, evt_type, code, value)
      index += 1
      event = source.read(event_len)