Launch an urgent window using Python and Xlib with the UrgencyHint flag

September 25, 2014 [Lubuntu, Programming, Python, Tech]

I am trying to fix a bug in lxpanel's taskbar plugin, and needed to launch an urgent window. Here's how I did it in a little python.

#!/usr/bin/python

# urgent.py -- launch an urgent window (Copyright messages are at the bottom)

# To use:
# sudo apt-get install python-xlib
# ./urgent.py

import sys
import Xlib
from Xlib import X, display, Xutil

d = display.Display()
s = d.screen()
w = s.root.create_window(
    50, 50, 300, 200, 2,
    s.root_depth,
    X.InputOutput,
    X.CopyFromParent,
    background_pixel = s.white_pixel,
)

w.set_wm_name( 'Urgent!' )
w.set_wm_hints( flags = Xutil.UrgencyHint )

w.map()

try:
    while 1:
        e = d.next_event()
except Xlib.error.ConnectionClosedError:
    pass

# This code is based on:
# examples/xrandr.py -- demonstrate the RandR extension
# from http://python-xlib.sourceforge.net/
#
#    Copyright (C) 2014 Andy Balaam
#    Copyright (C) 2009 David H. Bronke
#
#    This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
#    it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
#    the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
#    (at your option) any later version.
#
#    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
#    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
#    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
#    GNU General Public License for more details.
#
#    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
#    along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
#    Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA