#!/usr/bin/python

#
# Axe-Twitter script
# v0.1, by Stelios M. (steliosm@steliosm.net)
# http://steliosm.net
#
# Read values from a PicAxe through the serial port and post them to Twitter!
# PicAxe must also send the Username/Password for the Twitter account.
#
# TwitterAPI provided by:
# http://avinashv.net/2008/04/python-and-twitter/
#

import base64, httplib, urllib, serial, string

class TwitterAPI:
 def __init__(self, username, password):
  # generate authentication header string
  self.authentication = { "Authorization": "Basic %s" % base64.encodestring("%s:%s" % (username, password)).strip() }

  # create connection
  self.connection = httplib.HTTPConnection("twitter.com", 80)

 def update_status(self, status):
  # send post response with authenticated status
  self.connection.request("POST", "/statuses/update.xml", urllib.urlencode({ "status": status }), self.authentication)
  response = self.connection.getresponse()
  return response.status


def main():
 # Create an serial port object
 # Set the serial port the PicAxe is connected to
 ser = serial.Serial ('/dev/ttyUSB0', 4800)

 # Read the data from the serial port in a loop
 while (1):
  # Read data from the serial port
  myData = ser.readline()
  # Strip off the last 2 characters (cr & lf)
  myData = myData[:-2]
  # Split the data into 3 parts seperated by ':'
  myData = myData.split(':')
  
  # Create a new TwitterAPI object
  myTwitter = TwitterAPI(myData[0], myData[1])
  # Update the status
  myTwitter.update_status(myData[2])

# Start the program!
if __name__ == "__main__":
 main()