$kype for Linux: script to change ver. 4.2 to 4.3

#!/usr/bin/env python
"""
This Python script will switch the $kype version for the (Linux) Debian version
from 4.2 to 4.3 allowing clients which are unable to connect to connect again.

Real credit for this solution actually goes to Debian mailing list user Hans.
See: https://lists.debian.org/debian-user/2014/08/msg01190.html
Thanks Hans :-)

This is just a script which tries to automate the steps.

Instructions:
    - Make sure you have $kype 4.2 for Linux installed
    - Save the script in any directory (e.g. home) with any name e.g. sky.py
    - Run the script with: python sky.py
    - If everything went well you should have a binary file called zkype
    in the same directory where the script was run
    - Launch the file with ./zkype and try to log-in
    - Optional: replace the original $kype binary with the new one

The script has been (very limitedly) tested on Debian Jessie amd64.

Script by: Darrell Standing

WARNING: This script is provided for educational and learning purpouses only.
Any illegal activity is not endorsed. Author takes no responsibility for misuse
The script is provided as is. Use at your own risk!
M$ fk.u.!

"""
import subprocess
import sys
import os
import stat
from distutils.spawn import find_executable

def zkype_ver_detect(bin_path):
    """Detect zkype version and extract the version string"""
    skype_output = subprocess.check_output([bin_path, '--version'])
    ver = skype_output[:skype_output.find("\n")]
    ver = ver.replace("Skype ","")
    return ver

# Search for skype executable in default path
orig_zkype_bin_path = find_executable('skype')
if find_executable == None:
    print("Error: Could not find skype executable.")
    print(("Searching in the following paths: %s") % (os.environ['PATH']))
    print('Please make sure skype is installed')
    sys.exit()

# Detect verion and extract version string
print("Detecting $kype version...\n")
new_zkype_bin_path = './zkype'
ver_string = zkype_ver_detect(orig_zkype_bin_path)
if ver_string.find("4.2") < 0:
    print(("""$kype version seems different than 4.2
            Reported version is %s") %""") %
            (ver_string)
            )
    sys.exit()
else:
    print(("OK. Found version %s\n") % ver_string)

# Open and read the original zkype binary file
print(("Opening original binary file at %s..." % orig_zkype_bin_path))
zkype_file = open(orig_zkype_bin_path, 'rb')
orig_content = zkype_file.read()
zkype_file.close()

# Replace version string, changing 4.2 to 4.3
print("Replacing version...")
new_version = ver_string.replace('4.2','4.3')
new_content = orig_content.replace(ver_string, new_version)

# Write to new binary file
print(("Creating new binary file: %s" % new_zkype_bin_path))
new_file = open(new_zkype_bin_path, 'wb')
new_file.write(new_content)
new_file.close()

# Make the new file executable
print("Making new file executable")
os.chmod(new_zkype_bin_path, stat.S_IXUSR)

# Test newly reprted version...
print("Testing version...")
ver_reported = zkype_ver_detect(new_zkype_bin_path)
print(("Reported version is now %s") % ver_reported)
if ver_reported.find('4.3') >= 0:
    print('OK. Looks good!')
    print("Try running the new binary %s and logging in") % new_zkype_bin_path
else:
    print("Ouch.. Something went wrong?")