Welcome to the Python for XBMC Tutorial! This project began one day when I discovered XBMC (XBox Media Center) supports scripts written in Python. Darkie made the port, and I’d like to thank him for his great work and support! (I harassed him with questions and feature suggestions and he was always nice enough to reply to the questions and to add the features.) Curious, I decided to try to use this scripting language to display some basic stuff.

Before I could begin writing for the XBox, I spent many hours learning the Python language (and, in the process, the snake bit me ;), and reading through all the documentation included in the Windows port. Once I’d finished that, I started to code some very basic scripts. I learned XBMC Python through a lot of trial and error. Now I feel more comfortable coding for the XBox, and so I decided to share my experience.

In order to script for the XBox, you’ll obviously need Python installed with XBMC. Most XBMC releases include a python.rar file containing the necessary scripts. (Some full-scale releases come with Python already included in the main installation.) So unrar the Python file if you need to, and you’ll have two folders: “python” and “scripts.” Place both of these in XBMC’s root directory.

Note that features are always being added, so we really advise you to have the last version of XBMC and of Python, otherwise scripts written using newer versions may not work with your installation. To run Python scripts on your XBox, use the script launcher, which is based in different locations in XBMC depending on your skin. In Project Mayhem, it can be found under “My Files.” So go to “My Files,” then scroll down to “scripts” and push “A” (or “Select” on the IR Remote). Now it will show you a list of all the Python scripts—as well as any subfolders—in your “scripts” directory. Select a Python script and hit “A” to run it.

Download pdf XBMC-Python Scripting Tutorial