Initial commit: Teams keep-active tool for Linux (X11) and Windows

Cross-platform anti-idle utility that keeps Microsoft Teams showing
Available by resetting the OS idle timer with an invisible input signal.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

.gitignore

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+__pycache__/
+*.pyc

README.md

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+# teamsTrick
+
+Keep Microsoft Teams (and any presence system driven by OS idle time) showing
+**Available** while you're reading, watching a video, on a call, or otherwise not
+touching the keyboard. Teams flips you to *Away* after roughly 5 minutes of no
+input; these scripts reset the OS idle timer with a brief, invisible signal so
+that never happens.
+
+No third-party packages — each script uses only the standard OS APIs via Python's
+`ctypes`.
+
+## Scripts
+
+| Script | Platform | Method |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `stay_active.py` | Linux (X11) | 1px mouse nudge (or key tap) via the X11 XTest extension |
+| `stay_active_win.py` | Windows | Invisible F15 key tap (or mouse nudge) via the Win32 `SendInput` API |
+
+## Requirements
+
+- Python 3
+- **Linux:** an **X11** session (`echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE` → `x11`) and the
+  `libX11` / `libXtst` system libraries (present on essentially every desktop).
+  Wayland is not supported — XTest does not reset the idle timer there.
+- **Windows:** nothing beyond Python. If `python` isn't on your PATH, use `py`.
+
+Run the script from **inside your desktop session** (not over SSH) so it can talk
+to the display / input system.
+
+## Usage
+
+### Linux
+
+```bash
+./stay_active.py                 # default: invisible 1px mouse nudge every 120s
+./stay_active.py -i 90           # nudge every 90s
+./stay_active.py -m key -k shift # tap Shift instead of moving the mouse
+./stay_active.py -q &            # quiet, run in the background
+```
+
+### Windows
+
+```
+python stay_active_win.py                 # default: invisible F15 tap every 120s
+python stay_active_win.py -i 90           # every 90s
+python stay_active_win.py -m mouse        # 1px mouse nudge instead
+python stay_active_win.py --no-sleep      # also keep the PC/display awake
+python stay_active_win.py -q              # quiet, good for background
+```
+
+Stop either script with **Ctrl+C**.
+
+## Options
+
+| Flag | Description |
+| --- | --- |
+| `-i`, `--interval` | Seconds between signals (default `120`). Keep it under Teams' ~300s Away threshold. |
+| `-m`, `--method` | `mouse` or `key`. Default is `mouse` on Linux, `key` on Windows. |
+| `-k`, `--key` | Which key to tap in key mode (Linux: `f13`–`f15`, `shift`). |
+| `--no-sleep` | *(Windows only)* Also prevent the system and display from sleeping. |
+| `-q`, `--quiet` | Suppress the heartbeat output. |
+
+## Notes & caveats
+
+- It only prevents the **idle → Away** transition. It does **not** override a
+  status you set manually (e.g. *Do Not Disturb*).
+- It won't help if the machine **sleeps** — a sleeping PC goes offline regardless.
+  On Windows use `--no-sleep`; on Linux disable screen lock / suspend if you need
+  to stay green while away for a long time.
+- The signals are designed to be invisible: the mouse nudge returns the cursor to
+  where it started, and F15 / the chosen keys aren't bound to anything on a normal
+  desktop.

stay_active.py

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+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""stay_active.py — keep Microsoft Teams (and any OS-idle-based presence) showing 'Available'.
+
+Teams marks you 'Away' when the OS reports no keyboard/mouse activity for ~5 minutes.
+This tool resets the X11 idle timer periodically by tapping a harmless key (F15 by
+default — it has no visible effect and is not bound to anything on a normal desktop).
+
+No third-party packages required: it calls the X11 XTest extension directly via ctypes.
+X11 sessions only (XDG_SESSION_TYPE=x11). Press Ctrl+C to stop.
+"""
+
+import argparse
+import ctypes
+import os
+import sys
+import time
+
+# --- X11 / XTest bindings via ctypes -----------------------------------------
+
+try:
+    _x11 = ctypes.CDLL("libX11.so.6")
+    _xtst = ctypes.CDLL("libXtst.so.6")
+except OSError as e:
+    sys.exit(f"Could not load X11 libraries: {e}\nThis tool requires an X11 session.")
+
+_x11.XOpenDisplay.restype = ctypes.c_void_p
+_x11.XOpenDisplay.argtypes = [ctypes.c_char_p]
+_x11.XKeysymToKeycode.restype = ctypes.c_uint
+_x11.XKeysymToKeycode.argtypes = [ctypes.c_void_p, ctypes.c_ulong]
+_x11.XFlush.argtypes = [ctypes.c_void_p]
+_xtst.XTestFakeKeyEvent.argtypes = [
+    ctypes.c_void_p, ctypes.c_uint, ctypes.c_int, ctypes.c_ulong
+]
+_xtst.XTestFakeRelativeMotionEvent.argtypes = [
+    ctypes.c_void_p, ctypes.c_int, ctypes.c_int, ctypes.c_ulong
+]
+
+# X keysyms for a few no-op keys. F15 is the safest default.
+KEYSYMS = {
+    "f13": 0xFFCA,
+    "f14": 0xFFCB,
+    "f15": 0xFFCC,
+    "shift": 0xFFE1,  # Shift_L — no character, but modifies if held with another key
+}
+
+
+def open_display():
+    disp = _x11.XOpenDisplay(None)
+    if not disp:
+        display = os.environ.get("DISPLAY", "(unset)")
+        sys.exit(f"Could not open X display (DISPLAY={display}). Run inside your desktop session.")
+    return disp
+
+
+def tap_key(disp, keycode):
+    _xtst.XTestFakeKeyEvent(disp, keycode, True, 0)   # press
+    _xtst.XTestFakeKeyEvent(disp, keycode, False, 0)  # release
+    _x11.XFlush(disp)
+
+
+def nudge_mouse(disp):
+    # Move 1px, then back — resets the idle timer without the cursor visibly moving.
+    _xtst.XTestFakeRelativeMotionEvent(disp, 1, 0, 0)
+    _xtst.XTestFakeRelativeMotionEvent(disp, -1, 0, 0)
+    _x11.XFlush(disp)
+
+
+def main():
+    p = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Keep Teams presence 'Available' by resetting the idle timer.")
+    p.add_argument("-i", "--interval", type=float, default=120,
+                   help="seconds between key taps (default: 120; keep under Teams' ~300s Away threshold)")
+    p.add_argument("-m", "--method", choices=["mouse", "key"], default="mouse",
+                   help="how to signal activity (default: mouse — a 1px nudge that returns)")
+    p.add_argument("-k", "--key", choices=KEYSYMS.keys(), default="shift",
+                   help="key to tap when --method key is used (default: shift — always mapped)")
+    p.add_argument("-q", "--quiet", action="store_true", help="don't print heartbeat messages")
+    args = p.parse_args()
+
+    if os.environ.get("XDG_SESSION_TYPE", "").lower() not in ("x11", ""):
+        print(f"Warning: session type is '{os.environ.get('XDG_SESSION_TYPE')}', not x11. "
+              "XTest may not reset the idle timer under Wayland.", file=sys.stderr)
+
+    disp = open_display()
+
+    if args.method == "key":
+        keycode = _x11.XKeysymToKeycode(disp, KEYSYMS[args.key])
+        if keycode == 0:
+            sys.exit(f"Key '{args.key}' has no keycode on this layout. Try --method mouse.")
+        action = lambda: tap_key(disp, keycode)
+        label = f"tapping '{args.key}'"
+    else:
+        action = lambda: nudge_mouse(disp)
+        label = "nudging mouse 1px"
+
+    if not args.quiet:
+        print(f"stay_active: {label} every {args.interval:g}s. Press Ctrl+C to stop.")
+
+    taps = 0
+    try:
+        while True:
+            action()
+            taps += 1
+            if not args.quiet:
+                print(f"\r  active — {taps} signal(s) sent, last at {time.strftime('%H:%M:%S')}",
+                      end="", flush=True)
+            time.sleep(args.interval)
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        if not args.quiet:
+            print("\nstay_active: stopped.")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()

stay_active_win.py

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+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""stay_active_win.py — keep Microsoft Teams showing 'Available' on Windows.
+
+Teams marks you 'Away' after ~5 minutes of no keyboard/mouse input. This tool
+resets Windows' idle timer periodically by sending a harmless input via the Win32
+SendInput API. It also optionally tells Windows not to sleep/turn off the display
+while running.
+
+No third-party packages required — pure ctypes against user32/kernel32.
+Windows only. Press Ctrl+C to stop.
+"""
+
+import argparse
+import ctypes
+import sys
+import time
+from ctypes import wintypes
+
+if not sys.platform.startswith("win"):
+    sys.exit("This script is for Windows. On Linux use stay_active.py instead.")
+
+user32 = ctypes.WinDLL("user32", use_last_error=True)
+kernel32 = ctypes.WinDLL("kernel32", use_last_error=True)
+
+# --- SendInput structures ----------------------------------------------------
+
+ULONG_PTR = wintypes.WPARAM
+
+INPUT_MOUSE = 0
+INPUT_KEYBOARD = 1
+
+MOUSEEVENTF_MOVE = 0x0001
+
+KEYEVENTF_KEYUP = 0x0002
+VK_F15 = 0x7E  # virtual key; valid even without a physical F15 on the keyboard
+
+# SetThreadExecutionState flags (keep system/display awake)
+ES_CONTINUOUS = 0x80000000
+ES_SYSTEM_REQUIRED = 0x00000001
+ES_DISPLAY_REQUIRED = 0x00000002
+
+
+class MOUSEINPUT(ctypes.Structure):
+    _fields_ = [
+        ("dx", wintypes.LONG),
+        ("dy", wintypes.LONG),
+        ("mouseData", wintypes.DWORD),
+        ("dwFlags", wintypes.DWORD),
+        ("time", wintypes.DWORD),
+        ("dwExtraInfo", ULONG_PTR),
+    ]
+
+
+class KEYBDINPUT(ctypes.Structure):
+    _fields_ = [
+        ("wVk", wintypes.WORD),
+        ("wScan", wintypes.WORD),
+        ("dwFlags", wintypes.DWORD),
+        ("time", wintypes.DWORD),
+        ("dwExtraInfo", ULONG_PTR),
+    ]
+
+
+class _INPUTunion(ctypes.Union):
+    _fields_ = [("mi", MOUSEINPUT), ("ki", KEYBDINPUT)]
+
+
+class INPUT(ctypes.Structure):
+    _fields_ = [("type", wintypes.DWORD), ("u", _INPUTunion)]
+
+
+def _send(*inputs):
+    n = len(inputs)
+    arr = (INPUT * n)(*inputs)
+    sent = user32.SendInput(n, arr, ctypes.sizeof(INPUT))
+    if sent != n:
+        raise ctypes.WinError(ctypes.get_last_error())
+
+
+def nudge_mouse():
+    # Relative move +1px then -1px: cursor ends where it started, effectively invisible.
+    right = INPUT(type=INPUT_MOUSE, u=_INPUTunion(mi=MOUSEINPUT(1, 0, 0, MOUSEEVENTF_MOVE, 0, 0)))
+    left = INPUT(type=INPUT_MOUSE, u=_INPUTunion(mi=MOUSEINPUT(-1, 0, 0, MOUSEEVENTF_MOVE, 0, 0)))
+    _send(right, left)
+
+
+def tap_f15():
+    down = INPUT(type=INPUT_KEYBOARD, u=_INPUTunion(ki=KEYBDINPUT(VK_F15, 0, 0, 0, 0)))
+    up = INPUT(type=INPUT_KEYBOARD, u=_INPUTunion(ki=KEYBDINPUT(VK_F15, 0, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0, 0)))
+    _send(down, up)
+
+
+def main():
+    p = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Keep Teams presence 'Available' on Windows.")
+    p.add_argument("-i", "--interval", type=float, default=120,
+                   help="seconds between signals (default: 120; keep under Teams' ~300s Away threshold)")
+    p.add_argument("-m", "--method", choices=["mouse", "key"], default="key",
+                   help="how to signal activity (default: key — an invisible F15 tap)")
+    p.add_argument("--no-sleep", action="store_true",
+                   help="also prevent the system and display from sleeping while running")
+    p.add_argument("-q", "--quiet", action="store_true", help="don't print heartbeat messages")
+    args = p.parse_args()
+
+    action = tap_f15 if args.method == "key" else nudge_mouse
+    label = "tapping F15" if args.method == "key" else "nudging mouse 1px"
+
+    if args.no_sleep:
+        flags = ES_CONTINUOUS | ES_SYSTEM_REQUIRED | ES_DISPLAY_REQUIRED
+        kernel32.SetThreadExecutionState(flags)
+
+    if not args.quiet:
+        awake = " (sleep inhibited)" if args.no_sleep else ""
+        print(f"stay_active: {label} every {args.interval:g}s{awake}. Press Ctrl+C to stop.")
+
+    taps = 0
+    try:
+        while True:
+            action()
+            taps += 1
+            if not args.quiet:
+                print(f"\r  active — {taps} signal(s) sent, last at {time.strftime('%H:%M:%S')}",
+                      end="", flush=True)
+            time.sleep(args.interval)
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        if not args.quiet:
+            print("\nstay_active: stopped.")
+    finally:
+        if args.no_sleep:
+            kernel32.SetThreadExecutionState(ES_CONTINUOUS)  # release the keep-awake request
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()