nit_twit.py

import urllib
import optparse
import os.path
import pickle


def truncate(message,limit):
    if len(message) > limit:
        # break off at 137 chars and concat elipsis
        return message[:(limit-3)] + "..."
    else:
        # not too long
        return message

def nit_twit(username,password,message):
    urllib.urlopen(
        "http://%s:%s@twitter.com/statuses/update.xml" % (username,password), 
        urllib.urlencode({
            "status" : truncate(message,140)
        })
    )
    return 
    # TO DO: break up messages into 140 char parts
    # send multiple posts for messages > 140? that might be annoying.    

def post(opts, credentials):
    # only post to twitter if the message wasn't blank
    if opts.message != '':

        nit_twit(credentials['username'], credentials['password'], opts.message)

        print("\n\n'"+opts.message+"' \n\n>>> posted successfully\n\n")
    else:
        print("No Message? No Post. Those are the rules.\n\n")
    
    return

# main command line program
def main():
    # set up the option parser
    parser = optparse.OptionParser()
    # define this program's accepted option set
    parser.add_option(
        '--message', '-m', 
        default='' , help="Be sure to put your message in quotes :)"
    )
    parser.add_option(
        '--username', '-u', 
        default='' , help="Twitter username"
    )
    parser.add_option(
        '--password', '-p', 
        default='' , help="Twitter password"
    )        
    # parse the opts passed
    opts, arguments = parser.parse_args()
    
    if os.path.exists("nit_twit"):
        # conf exists, use pickle to load the stored object
        credentials = pickle.load(open("nit_twit", "r"))
        
    else:
        # conf file does not exist:
        # check first to see if credentials have been passed in as options 
        # otherwise prompt for credentials
        # allows mix and match input       
        credentials = { 
            "username": opts.username if opts.username != '' else raw_input("Twitter username: "), 
            "password": opts.password if opts.password != '' else raw_input("Twitter password: ") 
        }

        pickle.dump(credentials, open("nit_twit", "w"))
    
    post(opts, credentials)
    return


#usage: python nit_twit.py -m "posting to twitter"
#usage: python nit_twit.py -m "posting to twitter" -u username -p password
    
if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()        

• using pickle to save and retrieve an object of data
• added -u and -p as options to the command
• falls back to raw_input() if those arent used
• additionally saves your credentials, so you only have to enter it once

Installation:

$ curl -O https://gist.github.com/raw/489210/nit_twit.py