Python tool for keeping track of strings

Question

I wrote this just now. It associates keys to strings; basically a centralized means of storing values.
#!/usr/bin/env python
from cPickle import load, dump
from sys import argv
from os.path import expanduser
strings_file = expanduser('~/lib/cfg-strings')
try:
with open(strings_file) as f:
strings = load(f)
except:
strings = {}
if len(argv) < 2:
print('''usage:
{0} dump
{0} get <key>
{0} del <key>
{0} set <key> <val>'''.format(argv[0]))
elif len(argv) == 2:
if argv[1] == 'dump':
for k in strings.keys(): print(k + ': ' + strings[k])
elif len(argv) == 3:
if argv[1] == 'get':
if argv[2] in strings.keys():
print(strings[argv[2]])
elif argv[1] == 'del':
if argv[2] in strings.keys():
del(strings[argv[2]])
elif len(argv) == 4:
if argv[1] == 'set':
strings[argv[2]] = argv[3]
with open(strings_file, 'w') as f:
dump(strings, f)
Replace '~/lib/cfg-strings' with your preferred destination for the pickle file.
As an example, I have this at the end of my .xinitrc:
exec $(cfg get wm)
so all I have to do is type "cfg set wm ..." to change my window manager. Note that on my system, the script is named 'cfg', so you'll want to change that depending on what you call it.
To be honest, though, I think everyone has written something like this at least once.
Last edited by Peasantoid (2010-01-18 01:29:14)

Answer 1

Nice idea Peasantoid! I have wanted something similar for myself for a while now however wasn't exactly sure how best to do this. Here's my version. It is based on yours though as I prefer plain text for the settings file so I used JSON.
#!/usr/bin/python
import json
import os.path
import sys
SETTINGS_FILE = os.path.expanduser('~/configs/settings.json')
def dump(s):
print json.dumps(s, sort_keys = True, indent=2)
def get(s, key):
if s.has_key(key):
print s[key]
def set(s, key, val):
s[key] = val
save(s)
def delete(s, key):
if s.has_key(key):
del s[key]
save(s)
def save(s):
json.dump(s, open(SETTINGS_FILE, 'w'))
def usage():
str = [
"usage: %s dump (default)",
" %s get <key>",
" %s set <key> <val>",
" %s delete <key>"
for x in str:
print x % sys.argv[0]
def main():
try:
settings = json.load(open(SETTINGS_FILE))
except:
settings = {}
a = sys.argv
n = len(a)
if n == 1 or (n == 2 and a[1] == 'dump'):
dump(settings)
elif n == 3 and a[1] == 'get':
get(settings, a[2])
elif n == 3 and a[1] == 'delete':
delete(settings, a[2])
elif n == 4 and a[1] == 'set':
set(settings, a[2], a[3])
else:
usage()
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()