X desktop: switch to or open new process

goto_or_open_terminator.sh

#!/bin/bash
#searches for $COMMAND in ps. if its found, switch to it using wmctrl, else start a new one.
#if any arguments are made ($@), $COMMAND will be run with them even if it's already running. 
#tip: bind this to a spare mouse button with xbindkeys
#tip: save this as /usr/local/bin/terminator to override the command in /usr/bin using $PATH ordering.
#requires wmctrl. currently set up for terminator but could be used for any process.

COMMAND="/usr/bin/python /usr/bin/[t]erminator"
PID=`ps aux | grep "$COMMAND" | awk '{print $2}' | head -1`
if [ -z $PID ] || [ ! -z "$@" ]
then
  $COMMAND $@
else
  wmctrl -ia $(wmctrl -lp | awk -vpid=$PID '$3==pid {print $1; exit}')
fi