# Works on my machine (Mac OS X 10.6.8, Python 2.7.1)
# Use with caution. Count early and often.

import os
import sys
import time
from subprocess import Popen, PIPE

def word_count_loop(file):
    old_stat = 0
    while True:
        new_stat = os.stat(file).st_mtime
        if new_stat != old_stat:
            command = 'wc -w < %s' % file
            p = Popen(command, shell=True, stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE)

            # Retreive word count
            words, _ = p.communicate()

            # Stip whitespace
            words = words.strip()

            # Clear screen
            os.system('clear')

            # Write result to screen
            sys.stdout.write("Words: %s" % words)
            sys.stdout.flush()

            old_stat = new_stat
            continue
        time.sleep(.25)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    # Check command line arg length
    if len(sys.argv) > 1:
        # Check if file exists
        if os.path.exists(sys.argv[1]):
            word_count_loop(sys.argv[1])
        else:
            print "Error: File Not Found"
    else:
        # No command line args given. Show usage info...
        print "  Usage:"
        print "    python wcloop.py <filepath>"
        print "  Example:"
        print "    python wcloop.py ~/Documents/file-that-I-want-to-repeatedly-check-with-wc.txt"