How to write a simple timed popup reminder script

[Scott Kitterman]

On Thursday 29 June 2006 09:00, Sean Hammond wrote:
> Okay, I want to write a script for Ubuntu that will pop-up a reminder
> every 20 minutes saying "if someone else is waiting, don't hog the
> computer" (exact text to be confirmed). It's for use in a busy cafe
> running Ubuntu for free, open Internet access.
>
> Question: What is the best way to do this?
>
> I want to be able to do it as quickly, easily and simply as possible,
> so ideally I just want to write a short bash script or python script
> which can start on login and run in the background. The notification
> itself could be a pop-up window which the user has to close or,
> (probably better) it could use the new speech bubble notification
> mechanism thing.
>
> I'm happy to write it myself, but don't know how, and don't really
> know my way around the platform. Any help? Would this be better posted
> to the forums?
>
I don't do much GUI work, so I can't help you with the pop-up part, but I do 
have one recommendation for you....

Rather than have the application run in background, you might be better off to 
have Cron call the script, have it check to see if anyone is logged on, 
pop-up the window, and then exit.  It will be cleaner, easier to debug, and 
less likely to interfere with other running programs.

Scott K