Re: SoC09 Idea: Scripting for Screen

[Sadrul Habib Chowdhury]

* Neil Jerram had this to say on [03 Mar 2009, 20:36:53 +0000]:
> Sadrul Habib Chowdhury <address@hidden> writes:
[snip]
> >
> > <p>GNU Screen currently does not support any kind of scripting.
> > However, with the wide array of tasks that it is used for, some
> > scripting support will help users to use screen in a much more
> > effective and efficient manner.</p>
> 
> I'm sure you're right, but perhaps you could give a couple of specific
> examples?
> 

* Define custom arbitrary actions, e.g. in a split layout, jump to the
  region containing the mail-reader, or create it and display in the
  current region if it doesn't exist.

* Define event callbacks, e.g. send a signal to an app inside the screen
  window when the user switches to/from it, or not allow killing/closing
  a window etc.

* Specify new/custom handlers for escapes in caption/hardstatus
  strings (e.g. an escape to show the list of windows that have the
  bell/monitor/log etc. flags set, or show only titles/numbers for %w)

> > <p>Some rudimentary <a 
> > href="http://repo.or.cz/w/screen-lua.git?a=shortlog;h=refs/heads/lua-scripting";>
> > proof-of-concept</a> implementation for scripting support has been
> > done. We are looking for interested students to complete this task.
> > The student will need to design the interface between screen and the
> > scripting module(s), and implement at least one module for a
> > scripting language of the student's choice (e.g. guile, lua, python,
> > perl etc.).</p>
> 
> If Guile is used for this, I would be happy to be a further backup (if
> needed) for that aspect of the project.

Excellent! Thanks!

> Regards,
>         Neil

Cheers,
Sadrul