How can I handle keyboard events in python? More exactly I need to manage keyboard arrows and some other keys for my command-line application. Is there a module for this or I need to handle key by key using for example "if get(key)==(mykey): do something" (it's pseudo-code)? I'm on Gnu/Linux OS.
4 Answers
Would the cmd module suit your needs? It handles command-line history through the arrow keys, for instance, as well as completion.
If you need to catch a single key, there is a cross-platform recipe for this (see also Python read a single character from the user on StackOverflow).
1 Comment
stdio
It seems I need cmd module too :) thanks. I clicked your answer as useful.
You're probably looking for a python (n)curses library. This will allow to "get around" your terminal buffering and work with key-presses directly.
1 Comment
stdio
Thanks. I had already thought of something about curses and you confirmed me.
jkerian's curses suggestion is a good one, and is the one to use if you're working with Unix/Linux/etc. (which you are), but if you ever end up working in a Windows environment, then you'll definitely want to check out pywin32 and its win32con module, which wraps the Windows API's Console functions and structs.
Comments
I found another interesting module that's straightforward to use and I'll use it! The module is readline and you just need to import it to have a bash shell (handle keyboard, history-list, etc) "simulation". It's for *nix systems. I'm at beginning with python language and I don't know all modules yet. readline