Hack to use Android phone as barcode scanner for pc

scanner.rb

#!/usr/bin/env ruby
#
# Hack to use Android phone as barcode scanner for pc.
#
# Installation and setup:
# * Enable usb debugging on your Android phone
# * Make sure you have an Android SDK installed
# * Make sure xdotool is installed (apt-get has it) http://www.semicomplete.com/projects/xdotool/
# * Build and install https://github.com/majido/clipper
# * Start service: `adb shell su -c \'am startservice ca.zgrs.clipper/.ClipboardService\'`
# * Start barcode scanning app like https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdid=com.google.zxing.client.android
# * Make sure _copy to clipboard_ is enabled in preferences
# * Adapt the method `action` in this file to your use
#
# Usage:
# * Make sure computer can connect to phone through adb (usb cable)
# * Start this script on computer (you probably need Linux or related)
# * Start barcode scan app on phone
# * Rinse, repeat
#

# customize this method to do something with the scanned barcode
def action(barcode)
  # open url and wait until a window the specified title is present
  openurl 'https://books.google.com/?hl=en', 'Google Books'
   # type these keys into the current window
  injectkey "alt+s"
  injectkeys barcode + "\t "
end


def getclip
  r = `adb shell am broadcast -a clipper.get`
  r =~ /data="(.*)"\s*$/ and $1
end

def openurl(url, title)
  %x(xdg-open '#{url}')
  %x(xdotool search --sync --limit 1 '#{title}' windowfocus)
end

def injectkey(s)
  %x(xdotool key '#{s}')
end

def injectkeys(s)
  %x(xdotool type --delay 50 '#{s}')
end

lastclip = nil
while true do
  clip = getclip
  if clip =~ /^[0-9]+$/ && clip != lastclip
    puts "scan #{clip}"
    action clip
  end
  lastclip = clip
  sleep 0.5
end