Develop Reference

Automating DOSbox application

I have a very old DOS application which I would like to automate. Like there are keypresses and such which if automated will help a lot as I might have to run the program over a hundred times manually.
My question seems to be very similar to this one but the solutions offered there are not very useful for me, plus it is over nine years old
Automating old DOS application using Python
Only big difference between this question and mine is that I have no option other than DOSbox for doing this. This application is set up on a lot of computers, and all the people using the application know how to use DOSBox. Migrating to Virtualbox would be a pain and very time-consuming.
I was thinking maybe if I could mechanize this somehow in python using xautomaton or uinput, but I haven't been able to figure out exactly how. The application will be running on Ubuntu primarily.
To give an idea of the application, I am attaching a screenshot:
The solution does not necessarily need to be in python. Any other language would work. Any help is appreciated.

I figured this out. Although this does not use python, to do this, I just captured the windowid of DOSbox and sent all the key presses there using xdotool. Here is an example:
wid=$(xdotool search --class DOSbox)
xdotool key --window $wid m t 5 Return Return i
Which will type "mt5", then press enter twice and then type "i"
The series of keypresses can be stored in a string or a file and called iteratively each time this has to be run. If there is a better method to do this, please feel free to answer.

Utility to manage multiple python scripts

I saw this post on Medium, and wondered how one might go about managing multiple python scripts.
How I Hacked Amazon's Wifi Button
This describes a system where you need to run one or more scripts continuously to catch and react to events in your network.
My question: Let's say I had multiple python scripts that I wanted to do run while I work on other things. What approaches are available to manage these scripts? I have to imagine there is a better way than having a large number of terminal windows running each script individually.
I am coming back to python, and have no formal training in computer programming, so any guidance you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Let's say I had multiple python scripts that I wanted to do run. What
approaches are available to manage these scripts? I have to imagine
there is a better way than having a large number of terminal windows
running each script individually.
If you have several .py files in a directory that you want to run, without having a specific order, you can do:
import glob
pyFiles = glob.glob('path/*.py')
for pyFile in pyFiles:
execfile(pyFile)

Your system already runs a large number of background processes, with output to the system log or occasionally to a service-specific log file.
A common arrangement for quick and dirty deployments -- where you don't necessarily want to invest in making the scripts robust and well-behaved enough to run as proper services -- is to start the script inside screen or tmux. You can detach when you don't need to be looking at it, and can reattach at any time -- even from a remote login -- to view the output, or to troubleshoot.

Take a look at luigi (I've not used it).
https://github.com/spotify/luigi
These days (five years after the question was asked) a lot of people use docker compose. But that's a little heavy weight depending on what you want to do.

I just saw today the script server of bugy. Maybe it might be a solution for you or somebody else.
(I am just trying to find a tampermonkey script structure for python..)

Using a Raspberry Pi to create Usb-to-multiple 3.5mm converter?

I'm excited. I'm a long-time lurker here at SO, but I've never posted. Here goes!
I'm trying to develop a device that would connect to a host RPi through (preferably) USB, and would have multiple 3.5mm jack outputs. The goal, ultimately, is to get the device to use a standalone program that, when a button is pressed (keyboard, or other external input), a specific sound (or set of sounds) would go through a single 3.5mm output. Now, I understand that there's going to (most likely) have to be an external box, and I also realize that I'm in above my head, but I'm trying to create this as more of a hobby and as a learning experience.
Basically, the way it would go is that the user would set which inputs triggered which outputs beforehand on the custom software in the RPi. The input would then trigger that ouput then await a new signal. I figure I'm going to need to also build a physical box to house the amount of 3.5mm jacks I want (i figured 3-5.)
So, where do I need to start? I don't need a guide on how to do this, more of a step in the right direction. From what I can discern, there's not anything out there that does this. If there is, please show me and I'll get that instead. I've done a lot of googling on this, and I'm thinking that I'll use Raspbian on the Rpi, and code the software using Python. I know I'll also need to build a driver so that the external box and the RPi can communicate. Lastly, I assume that I'll need some type of circuitry for the external box. That's where it gets hairy to me. I've never dealt in physical I/O except for a bit of modding. Where would I start my search there?
Any help at all is appreciated, and thanks for reading this huge post. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is there a way to "compile" Python code onto an Arduino (Uno)?

I have a robotics type project with an Arduino Uno, and to make a long story short, I am experimenting with some AI algorithms. However, I need to implement some high level matrix algorithms that would be quite simple using NumPy/SciPy, but they are an utter nightmare in C or C++. Even with the libraries out there, this is just getting ridiculous.
Is there any way I can do this project in Python? I think I heard something about the Mega having this capability, but I have an Uno, and replacing it is not an option at this point (that would set the project back quite a bit.) Also, I heard somethings about using Python to communicate to the Arduino via USB, but I cannot have the USB cable in while the thing is running. I need to be able to upload the program and be done with it.
Are there any options out there, or have I just reached a dead end?

There was a talk about using Python with robotics at this years PyConAU called Ah! I see you have the machine that goes 'BING'! by Dr. Graeme Cross.
The only option he recommended for using Python on a microcontroller board was PyMite which I think also goes by the name of Python-On-A-Chip.
It has been ported to a range of boards - specifically he mentions the Arduino Mega which you said is not an option for you, but it is possible it is supported on other Arduino boards.
However, because it is a "batteries not included" version of Python it is more than likely that you will have a real problem getting numpy/scipy etc up and running.
As other posters have suggested, implementing in C might be the path of least resistence.
Update: again, not specifically for Arduino, but pyMCU looks to provide python on a chip. The author states he may look at developing an Arduino version of pyMCU if there is enough interest.

I've started work on a "Little Python" to C++ (called Pyxie - a play on Py CC- Pyc-C) compiler, with the specific aim of compiling a sane subset of python to C++ such that it can run on an arduino.
This is far from complete at time of writing (0.0.16), but it can currently compile a very small subset of python - enough for the arduino "blink" example to run. To support this, it has a compilation profile - which essentially means "compile using the arduino toolchain."
A program it can compile looks like this:
led = 13
pinMode(led, OUTPUT)
while True:
digitalWrite(led, HIGH)
delay(1000)
digitalWrite(led, LOW)
delay(1000)
This parses, performs analysis (like type inference, etc), compiles to C++, which is then compiled to a hex file, which you can load onto your device.
There's a long way to go before it's useful, but it is progressing and does have a roadmap/etc.
PyPI - http://pypi.python.org/pypi/pyxie
Homepage - http://www.sparkslabs.com/pyxie/index.html
In particular a key difference from Micropython (and PyMite) is that it's designed to compile to devices too small to run either implementation. (This also means it's very different from things like ShedSkin which while a Python to C++ compiler target larger execution environments)

It's going to be difficult to get any kind of Python script running directly on the Arduino uno.Reason is that it is an interpreted language, so you will need a interpreter on-board in addition to the plain text script. There is probably not going to be enough memory for all of thatin arduino uno.
What you can do best is to find a way to compile a Python script to native machine code (this is how C/C++ works). I have seen projects around to do something like that for other platforms, but (as far as I know) none which does it successfully for Arduino uno yet.
you can visit http://www.toptechboy.com/using-python-with-arduino-lessons/ for more.
wish this will help you.
thanks!

This is not a direct solution but in your circumstances If I were you, I would write the AI program on my computer and the rest of it in Arduino. after that I would write a flask server with my AI program. and then, port forward from my router to the local machine. finally, make requests from Arduino to the server.

How to encrypt files in twisted?

I'm using twisted to create a server.
Problem is, I must protect my code. Since I don't want to publish it, I'm not really interess into obfuscation or compilation of the python code.
My problem is, my twisted application must run with root uid and a lot of people have root access to this server.
I don't care if they can read it, but I want sure they can't modify it!
What is the best solution, knowing I'm using twisted? I've seen in twistd, tapconvert and mktap that twisted can "encrypt" my code, but I didn't find any good documentation about that.
Anybody to help me?
Thanks in advance for any answer =)
Have a nice day!
/!\ EDIT:
I got another question, I've wrote my code following this part of twisted documentation: http://twistedmatrix.com/documents/current/core/howto/application.html so I launch my server using a command like twistd -y server.py --logfile ...
Since I'm doing that, I assume I can't use software like cx_Freeze to hide my code right ?

You have a number of problems here.
my twisted application must run with root uid
This is bad. If there are vulnerabilities in your application, then they will be made more serious by running as root. You should consider finding a way to not run as root. For example, if you only run as root so you can bind to a low numbered port, consider using authbind instead.
a lot of people have root access to this server
Perhaps you should limit privileged access to those people who actually need it. If that isn't an option, then perhaps you should at least limit access to people you can trust. Someone who has root on a machine can do anything they want on that machine, and defeat any scheme you dream up.
I don't care if they can read it, but I want sure they can't modify it!
You should ask them not to modify it, then.
I've seen in twistd, tapconvert and mktap that twisted can "encrypt" my code, but I didn't find any good documentation about that. Anybody to help me?
You shouldn't bother trying to use the encryption features of twistd and mktap. These don't prevent anyone from changing your code. At best they might prevent someone from reading some of it. As you said, this isn't even your goal. Even if it were your goal, someone with root access will be able to decrypt these files easily, so it doesn't even help there.
If you give code to someone, expect them to be able to do anything and everything they want with it. If you put code on a server, you are effectively giving it to everyone with root access to that server.
So, stop thinking about encryption and other technical issues and think of some other way to achieve your goals - fire the untrustworthy administrators, use an appropriate license on the code, get an actual contract, etc.

AFAIK, there is no way to prevent a root user from modifying a plain text file. Root is just that, they can do anything they want with it including modifying. Why do so many people have root access to the machine anyway?
If you're concerned, you really have two options:
Encrypt the files in whatever way you want (I don't know if Twisted does it or how)
'Compile' the code for your platform. There are a few Python compilers out there but I don't know if they work with Linux. I'm a free software guy so I want people to read and modify my code. Protecting it doesn't concern me.
I guess you do have a third option of protecting it legally with a license. But if they violate your license then there's the cost of taking them to court over it.
Not many options. Sorry.
Anthony