A graphical binary clock. Uses custom, in-lined icons.

#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

"""
A graphical clock that displays the time as binary representation.

Values are represented as follows::

     8    *    *    *
     4    *  * *  * *
     2  * *  * *  * *
     1  * *  * *  * *
        hrs  min  sec

:Copyright: 2005-2008 Jochen Kupperschmidt
:Date: 14-Sep-2008
:License: GNU General Public License
"""

from datetime import datetime
from threading import Thread
import time
import Tkinter as tk


# lamp images (as base64-encoded GIF data)
LAMP_IMAGES = (
    # off
    '''
    R0lGODlhGAAYAKIEAJqamnt7e0NDQwAAAP///wAAAAAAAAAAACH5BAEAAAQALAAAAAAYABgAAANe
    SLrc/jBKNsaMFYB66dDgZk1ZaHJPaa6i87HwSAXwKsjLEOw1IPw4hW7HM/2OQcKQWDw6k0tmwPl0
    SYlUpPU6zd62V++3EWWKoeWdF+UqU9mYJTIpqUzhnRw9z+8/EgA7
    ''',
    # on
    '''
    R0lGODlhGAAYAKIEAOxISOAWFncPDwAAAP///wAAAAAAAAAAACH5BAEAAAQALAAAAAAYABgAAANe
    SLrc/jBKNsaMFYB66dDgZk1ZaHJPaa6i87HwSAXwKsjLEOw1IPw4hW7HM/2OQcKQWDw6k0tmwPl0
    SYlUpPU6zd62V++3EWWKoeWdF+UqU9mYJTIpqUzhnRw9z+8/EgA7
    ''',
    )

def decimal_to_binary(decimal):
    """Convert a decimal (base 10) to a binary (base 2) number."""
    def tmp():
        n = decimal
        if n == 0:
            yield 0
        while n > 0:
            yield n % 2
            n >>= 1
    return ''.join(reversed(map(str, tmp())))

def time_as_matrix():
    """Return current time represented as binary matrix."""
    decimal = map(int, datetime.now().strftime('%H%M%S'))
    binary = [decimal_to_binary(n).rjust(4, '0') for n in decimal]
    return tuple(tuple(map(int, ns)) for ns in zip(*binary))


class Lamp(tk.Label):
    """An indicator lamp widget."""

    def __init__(self, frame, images):
        tk.Label.__init__(self, frame)
        self._images = tuple(images)
        self.switch(False)

    def switch(self, value):
        """Turn the lamp on or off."""
        # Keep a reference to the image to prevent it from getting
        # lost (i. e. garbage collected, as far as I understood a
        # documentation note on this issue I can't find anymore).
        self.image = self._images[int(bool(value))]

        # Update the image.
        self.config(image=self.image)


class BinaryClock(tk.Frame):
    """A graphical binary clock."""

    def __init__(self, master=None):
        """Build a grid of lamps according to the given matrix."""
        tk.Frame.__init__(self, master)
        self.stop = False

        # Load and prepare lamp images.
        images = [tk.PhotoImage(data=data) for data in LAMP_IMAGES]

        def generate_column(row_index, row_data):
            for column_index, column_data in enumerate(row_data):
                if column_data:
                    lamp = Lamp(self, images)
                    lamp.grid(row=row_index, column=column_index)
                    yield lamp
                else:
                    yield

        def generate_row(matrix):
            for row_index, row_data in enumerate(matrix):
                yield tuple(generate_column(row_index, row_data))

        # Turn matrix into grid of lamps.
        matrix = (
            (0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1),
            (0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1),
            (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1),
            (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1),
            )
        self.lamps = tuple(generate_row(matrix))
        self.grid(sticky=tk.N + tk.S + tk.W + tk.E)

    def refresh_lamps(self, matrix):
        """Refresh the status of the lamp grid."""
        for row_idx, row in enumerate(matrix):
            for column_idx, field in enumerate(row):
                try:
                    self.lamps[row_idx][column_idx].switch(field)
                except AttributeError:
                    pass

    def update(self):
        """Update the lamps every second to the current time."""
        while not self.stop:
            try:
                self.refresh_lamps(time_as_matrix())
                time.sleep(1)
            except KeyboardInterrupt:
                pass


def main():
    root = tk.Tk()
    root.resizable(0, 0)
    app = BinaryClock(root)
    app.master.title('Binary Clock')
    app.master.config(padx=2, pady=2)
    app.grid(sticky=tk.N + tk.S + tk.W + tk.E)
    Thread(target=app.update).start()
    try:
        root.mainloop()
    finally:
        app.stop = True

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()