tweet.sh, a Twitter client written in simple Bash script

A one-file bash script Twitter Client (depending on some helper commands). This project is mainly started to demonstrating my shell scripting skills, so only limited features of Twitter APIs are supported.

Setup

You need to prepare API keys at first. Go to the front page, create a new app, and generate a new access token.

Then put them as a key file at ~/.tweet.client.key, with the format:

MY_SCREEN_NAME=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
MY_LANGUAGE=xx
CONSUMER_KEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CONSUMER_SECRET=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ACCESS_TOKEN=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ACCESS_TOKEN_SECRET=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

If there is a key file named tweet.client.key or .tweet.client.key in the current directory, tweet.sh will load it. Otherwise, the file ~/.tweet.client.key will be used as the default key file.

Moreover, you can give those information via environment variables without a key file.

$ export MY_SCREEN_NAME=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
$ export MY_LANGUAGE=xx
$ export CONSUMER_KEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
$ export CONSUMER_SECRET=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
$ export ACCESS_TOKEN=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
$ export ACCESS_TOKEN_SECRET=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
$ ./tweet.sh post "Hello!"

This form will be useful to implement a bot program.

And, this script uses some external commands. You need to install them via package system on your environment: apt, yum or something. Required commands are:

• curl
• jq
• nkf
• openssl

Usage

$ ./tweet.sh [command] [...arguments]

Available commands are:

• help: shows usage of the tweet.sh itself.
• Reading existing tweets (require "Read" permission)
  • fetch (get, show): fetches a JSON string of a tweet.
  • search: searches tweets with queries.
  • fetch-favorites (fetch-fav): fetches favorite tweets.
  • fetch-tweets (fetch-posts): fetches tweets of a user.

• type: detects the type of the given input.
• body: extracts the body of a tweet.
• owner: extracts the owner of a tweet.
• get-list-members: gets a list's member information.
• showme: reports the raw information of yourself.
• whoami: reports the screen name of yourself.
• language (lang): reports the selected language of yourself.
• Making some changes (require "Write" permission)
  • post (tweet, tw): posts a new tweet.
  • reply: replies to an existing tweet.
  • upload: uploads an image file. (deprecated)
  • delete (del, remove, rm): deletes a tweet.
  • favorite (fav): marks a tweet as a favorite.
  • unfavorite (unfav): removes favorited flag of a tweet.
  • retweet (rt): retweets a tweet.
  • unretweet (unrt): deletes the retweet of a tweet.
  • follow: follows a user.
  • unfollow: unfollows a user.
• Operate direct messages (require "Access direct messages" permission)
  • fetch-direct-messages (fetch-dm, get-direct-messages, get-dm): fetches recent DMs.
  • direct-message (dm): sends a DM.
  • delete-direct-message (delete-dm, del-dm): deletes a DM.
• Misc.
  • resolve: resolves a shortened URL.
  • resolve-all: resolve all shortened URLs in the given input.

Detailed logs can be shown with the DEBUG flag, like:

$ env DEBUG=1 ./tweet.sh search -q "Bash"

This script is mainly designed to be a client library to implement Twitter bot program, instead for daily human use. For most cases this script reports response JSONs of Twitter's APIs via the standard output. See descriptions of each JSON: a tweet, an event, and other responses also.

Some commands require URL of a tweet, and they accept shortened URLs like http://t.co/***. Such URLs are automatically resolved as actual URLs like https://twitter.com/***/status/***. The detectipn pattern for such shortened URLs is defined as URL_REDIRECTORS in the script, and it must be updated for new services.

Reading existing tweets

fetch (get, show): fetches a JSON string of a tweet

• Parameters

  • 1st argument: the ID or the URL of the tweet.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of the fetched tweet.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh fetch 0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh fetch https://twitter.com/username/status/0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh get 0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh show 0123456789
  

search: searches tweets with queries.

• Parameters

  • -q: queries. If you specify no query, then you'll see sample tweets as results.
  • -c: maximum number of tweets to be responded. 10 by default. (optional)
  • -s: the id of the last tweet already known. (optional) If you specify this option, only tweets newer than the given tweet will be returned.
  • -m: the id of the tweet you are searching tweets older than it. (optional) If you specify this option, only tweets older than the given tweet will be returned.
  • -t: type of results. (optional) Possible values: recent (default), popular, or mixed.
  • -h: command line to run for each search result. (optional) (It will receive tweets via the standard input.)
  • -w: start watching without handler. (optional)

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of the search result.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh search -q "queries" -c 10
  $ ./tweet.sh search -q "Bash OR Shell Script"
  $ ./tweet.sh search -q "Bash OR Shell Script" -h 'echo "found!"; cat'
  $ ./tweet.sh search -q "Bash OR Shell Script" -w |
      while read -r tweet; do echo "found!: ${tweet}"; done
  

fetch-favorites (fetch-fav): fetches favorite tweets.

• Parameters

  • -u: the screen name of the owner favorites to be fetched from. Yourself by default.
  • -c: maximum number of tweets to be fetched. 10 by default.
  • -s: the id of the last tweet already known. (optional) If you specify this option, only tweets newer than the given tweet will be returned.
  • -m: the id of the tweet you are searching tweets older than it. (optional) If you specify this option, only tweets older than the given tweet will be returned.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of fetched favorites.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh fetch-favorites -c 20
  $ ./tweet.sh fetch-fav -c 10 -s 0123456789
  

fetch-tweets (fetch-posts): fetches tweets of a user.

• Parameters

  • -u: the screen name of the owner of tweets to be fetched from. Yourself by default.
  • -c: maximum number of tweets to be fetched. 10 by default.
  • -s: the id of the last tweet already known. (optional) If you specify this option, only tweets newer than the given tweet will be returned.
  • -m: the id of the tweet you are searching tweets older than it. (optional) If you specify this option, only tweets older than the given tweet will be returned.
  • -a: include replies.
  • -r: include retweets.
  • -f: returns full text of the tweet (not truncated) sends tweet_mode=extended The json response changes the usual returned field from text to full_text.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of a user timeline.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh fetch-tweets -u screen_name -c 20
  $ ./tweet.sh fetch-posts -u screen_name -c 10 -s 0123456789
  

Streaming

Basically this command provides ability to get search result based on the given query.

If you want to observe new tweets matched to the query continuously, specify a callback command line as the handler via the -h option.

$ ./tweet.sh search -q "queries" -h "echo 'FOUND'; cat"

In this case, only -q and -h options are available. The script doesn't exit automatically if you specify the -h option. To stop the process, you need to send the SIGINT signal via Ctrl-C or something.

type: detects the type of the given input.

• Parameters

  • The standard input: a JSON string of a tweet.
  • -k: comma-separated list of keywords which are used for "search".

• Standard output

  • The data type detected from the input. Possible values:
    • event-follow: An event when you are followed.
    • direct-message: A direct message. It can be wrapped with a key direct_message.
    • quotation: A commented RT.
    • retweet: An RT.
    • mention: A mention or reply.
    • search-result: A tweet which is matched to the given keywords.

• Example

  $ echo "$tweet_json" | ./tweet.sh type -k keyword1,keyword2
  

This command provides ability to detect the type of each object returned from the user stream. For unknown type input, this returns an exit status 1 and reports nothing.

body: extracts the body of a tweet.

• Parameters

  • The standard input: a JSON string of a tweet. (optional)
  • 1st argument: the ID or the URL of a tweet. (optional)

• Standard output

  • The body string of the tweet.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh body 0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh body https://twitter.com/username/status/0123456789
  $ echo "$tweet_json" | ./tweet.sh body
  

owner: extracts the owner of a tweet.

• Parameters

  • The standard input: a JSON string of a tweet. (optional)
  • 1st argument: the ID or the URL of a tweet. (optional)

• Standard output

  • The screen name of the owner.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh owner 0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh owner https://twitter.com/username/status/0123456789
  $ echo "$tweet_json" | ./tweet.sh owner
  

get-list-members: gets a list's member information.

• Parameters

  • 1st argument: the ID or the URL of a list.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of the list members.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh get-list-members 0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh get-list-members https://twitter.com/i/lists/0123456789
  

showme: reports the raw information of yourself.

• Parameters

  • Nothing.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of the credentials API.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh showme
  

This will be useful if you want to get both informations whoami and language at once.

whoami: reports the screen name of yourself.

• Parameters

  • Nothing.

• Standard output

  • The screen name of yourself.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh whoami
  username
  

Important note: the rate limit of the API used by this command is very low. If you want to call another language command together, then you should use showme command instead.

language (lang): reports the selected language of yourself.

• Parameters

  • Nothing.

• Standard output

  • The language code selected by yourself.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh language
  en
  $ ./tweet.sh lang
  en
  

Important note: the rate limit of the API used by this command is very low. If you want to call another whoami command together, then you should use showme command instead.

Making some changes

post (tweet, tw): posts a new tweet.

• Parameters

  • -i: path to an image file. You can specify this multiple times. (optional)
  • -m: comma-separated list of uploaded image IDs. See also the upload command. (deprecated, left for backward compatibility)
  • -l: add location to tweet. (optional)
  • All rest arguments: the body of a new tweet to be posted. If you don't specify no extra parameters, this command reads posting body from the standard input.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of the posted tweet.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh post A tweet from command line
  $ ./tweet.sh post 何らかのつぶやき
  $ ./tweet.sh tweet @friend Good morning.
  $ ./tweet.sh tw -i ~/photos/1.jpg -i ~/photos/2.jpg My Photos
  $ ./tweet.sh tw -i ~/photos/1.jpg -i ~/photos/2.jpg
  $ ./tweet.sh tw -m 123,456,789 My Photos (old form)
  $ ./tweet.sh post -l A tweet with location
  $ cat body.txt | ./tweet.sh post
  

All rest arguments following to the command name are posted as a tweet. If you include a user's screen name manually in the body, it will become a mention (not a reply).

reply: replies to an existing tweet.

• Parameters

  • -i: path to an image file. You can specify this multiple times. (optional)
  • -m: comma-separated list of uploaded image IDs. See also the upload command. (deprecated, left for backward compatibility)
  • 1st rest argument: the ID or the URL of a tweet to be replied.
  • All other rest arguments: the body of a new reply to be posted. If you don't specify no extra parameters, this command reads posting body from the standard input.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of the posted reply tweet.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh reply 0123456789 @friend A regular reply
  $ ./tweet.sh reply 0123456789 A silent reply
  $ ./tweet.sh reply https://twitter.com/username/status/0123456789 @friend A regular reply
  $ ./tweet.sh reply https://twitter.com/username/status/0123456789 A silent reply
  $ ./tweet.sh reply -i ~/photos/1.jpg -i ~/photos/2.jpg 0123456789 Photo reply
  $ ./tweet.sh reply -m 123,456,789 0123456789 Photo reply (old form)
  $ cat body.txt | ./tweet.sh reply 0123456789
  

Note that you have to include the user's screen name manually if it is needed. This command does not append it automatically.

upload: uploads an image file. (deprecated)

Today the post command supports uploading image files together with the posting body, thus you don't need to upload files by your hand. This command is still available for backward compatibility.

• Parameters

  • 1st argument: absolute path to a local image file.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of the uplaod result.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh upload /path/to/file.png
  

This command accepts only image files and cannot upload other type media files due to a restriction of the depending API itself. You need to use twurl or other helpers to upload non-image media files.

delete (del, remove, rm): deletes a tweet.

• Parameters

  • 1st argument: the ID or the URL of a tweet to be deleted.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of the deleted tweet.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh delete 0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh del https://twitter.com/username/status/0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh remove 0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh rm https://twitter.com/username/status/0123456789
  

favorite (fav): marks a tweet as a favorite.

• Parameters

  • 1st argument: the ID or the URL of a tweet to be favorited.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of the favorited tweet.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh favorite 0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh favorite https://twitter.com/username/status/0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh fav 0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh fav https://twitter.com/username/status/0123456789
  

unfavorite (unfav): removes favorited flag of a tweet.

• Parameters

  • 1st argument: the ID or the URL of a tweet to be unfavorited.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of the unfavorited tweet.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh unfavorite 0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh unfavorite https://twitter.com/username/status/0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh unfav 0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh unfav https://twitter.com/username/status/0123456789
  

retweet (rt): retweets a tweet.

• Parameters

  • 1st argument: the ID or the URL of a tweet to be retweeted.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of the new tweet for a retweet.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh retweet 0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh retweet https://twitter.com/username/status/0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh rt 0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh rt https://twitter.com/username/status/0123456789
  

Note, you cannot add extra comment for the retweet. Instead, if you want to "quote" the tweet, then you just have to post with the URL of the original tweet.

$ ./tweet.sh post Good news! https://twitter.com/username/status/0123456789

unretweet (unrt): deletes the retweet of a tweet.

• Parameters

  • 1st argument: the ID or the URL of a tweet to be unretweeted.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of the deleted tweet for a retweet.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh unretweet 0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh unretweet https://twitter.com/username/status/0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh unrt 0123456789
  $ ./tweet.sh unrt https://twitter.com/username/status/0123456789
  

follow: follows a user.

• Parameters

  • 1st argument: the screen name of a user to be followed, or a URL of a tweet.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of the followed user.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh follow @username
  $ ./tweet.sh follow username
  $ ./tweet.sh follow https://twitter.com/username/status/012345
  

unfollow: unfollows a user.

• Parameters

  • 1st argument: the screen name of a user to be unfollowed, or a URL of a tweet.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of the unfollowed user.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh unfollow @username
  $ ./tweet.sh unfollow username
  $ ./tweet.sh unfollow https://twitter.com/username/status/012345
  

#Operate direct messages

fetch-direct-messages (fetch-dm, get-direct-messages, get-dm): fetches recent DMs.

• Parameters

  • -c: maximum number of messages to be fetched. 10 by default.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of events for direct messages.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh fetch-direct-messages -c 20
  $ ./tweet.sh get-direct-messages -c 20
  

direct-message (dm): sends a DM.

• Parameters

  • All arguments: the body of a new direct message to be sent. If you don't specify no parameter, this command reads message body from the standard input.

• Standard output

  • A JSON string of the event for the sent direct message.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh direct-message @friend Good morning.
  $ ./tweet.sh direct-message friend Good morning.
  $ ./tweet.sh dm @friend Good morning.
  $ ./tweet.sh dm friend Good morning.
  $ cat body.txt | ./tweet.sh direct-message @friend
  

delete-direct-messages (delete-dm, del-dm): deletes a DM.

• Parameters

  • The only one argument: the ID of the direct message to be deleted.

• Standard output

  • Nothing (same to the response of the deletion API)

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh delete-direct-messages 12345
  $ ./tweet.sh delete-dm 12345
  $ ./tweet.sh del-dm 12345
  

#Misc.

resolve: resolves a shortened URL.

• Parameters

  • 1st argument: a shortened URL.

• Standard output

  • The resolved original URL.

• Example

  $ ./tweet.sh resolve https://t.co/xxxx
  

resolve-all: resolve all shortened URLs in the given input.

• Parameters

  • Nothing.

• Standard output

  • The given input with resolved URLs.

• Example

  $ cat ./tweet-body.txt | ./tweet.sh resolve-all
  

Miscellaneous Examples

Search tweets with keywords and retweet all results

$ ./tweet.sh search -q "keyword" |
     jq -c '.statuses[]' |
     while read -r tweet; do ./tweet.sh retweet $(echo "$tweet" | jq -r .id_str); done