Python "Global" Keystrokes?

[xelapond]

I don't really know how to phrase this, but is there a way to have Python recognize keystrokes even if it is not the active application? I have used PyQt to make Keystrokes do stuff, but these only work when it is the active program.

Thanks,

Alex

[pmasiar]

I am not sure if I understand, but what is your definition of "active application"? Isn't it the one which will receive user input?

[xelapond]

For instance, if I am currently in Konqueror, and I hit <keystroke> the program, which is not the one currently receiving input, or has window focus, or for that matter, might not even have a GUI, would receive and act upon it(opening a GUI window, for instance)

I hope that helps. Pretty much If I am in a different application and hit a keystroke it will see it.

[scooper]

Yes, it's possible. I've done it with python-xlib. It's not pretty or intuitive either. I don't have the code handy, but if it would be useful I could try to dig it up.

[nanotube]

see my cross-platform python keylogger project, here:

http://pykeylogger.sf.net/

of particular interest to you would be the pyxhook.py file, which uses python-xlib and the X record module to record keystrokes.

like scooper says, it's not pretty - but with the code already in existence, it should be pretty easy for you to just import and use. :)

[pmasiar]

I see, it uses hook deep into X, changing how X handles keystrokes.

I did not know that Python can dive that deep :-) but on other thought, it is just Python binding for that X library, exactly as Python was designed to be used from very beginning. I sometimes forget that not all people use Python for web apps :-)