Improving my wireless script

[MattAd]

Okay, so I've been working little by little on a script that will connect me to available wireless networks on my laptop. What I have so far is good enough, and works, but I'd like to improve upon it and add more functionality.

Here's what I have so far:


#!/bin/bash

# setwlan.sh
# this script sets an essid for a wireless network I can connect to.
# This version has had a GUI added to it with Zenity.
# check 'man zenity' for zenity options.

E_NOESSID=65 # Error code if script is passed
# without an ESSID name.

wlan_essid=`zenity --entry --text="Enter the name of the Network you want to connect to."` # Prompt for ESSID


if [ -z $wlan_essid ]
then
zenity --error --text="You didn't enter a network name!"
exit $E_NOESSID
fi

echo "Clearing out old network connection..."
sudo ifdown wlan0 # Close any old connections
echo "Setting ESSID..."
sudo iwconfig wlan0 essid $wlan_essid # set the network name
echo "Network set!"
echo "Restarting network..."
sudo ifup wlan0 # Connect to the new network
echo "Done!"

exit


Here's my laundry list of what I'd like to add:

Being able to select a wireless network from a list of which ones are available. Right now, I have to know what network I'm connecting to, to do so.
I'd like to have this as a program, instead of just a script. What programming language would be ideal for that?
I'd like to improve upon the GUI, specifically to have the terminal output in its own window, so that if I call this program something something other than a terminal window, I'll still get feedback as to if it connected or not.


I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts and input. Thanks!

[moephan]

Here are some suggestings:

1. Use "sudo iwlist scanning" to get a list of available connection points. Parse the output and create a list from that.
2. Python
3. Design your GUI using Glade and implement it in Python and you'll have an honest to goodness Ubuntu app.

My $.02, HTH

Cheers, Rick