python-cec allows you to control your TV, reciever and other CEC-compliant HDMI devices from a python script on a computer. Most computer graphics cards don't support CEC; you'll need a Pulse-Eight USB-CEC adapter or a Raspberry Pi (tested on Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Rev 1.2).

To build python-cec, you need version 1.6.1 or later of the libcec development libraries:

On Gentoo:

sudo emerge libcec

On OS X:

brew install libcec

Ubuntu, Debian and Raspbian:

sudo apt-get install libcec-dev build-essential python-dev

pip install cec

You need to build libcec from source, because libcec installer doesn't provide cec.lib that is necessary for linking.

Then you just need to set up your paths, e.g.:

set INCLUDE=path_to_libcec\build\amd64\include
set LIB=path_to_libcec\build\amd64

A simple example to turn your TV on:

import cec

cec.init()

tv = cec.Device(cec.CECDEVICE_TV)
tv.power_on()

import cec

adapters = cec.list_adapters() # may be called before init()

cec.init() # use default adapter
cec.init(adapter) # use a specific adapter

cec.close()  # close the current adapter

cec.add_callback(handler, events)
# the list of events is specified as a bitmask of the possible events:
cec.EVENT_LOG
cec.EVENT_KEYPRESS
cec.EVENT_COMMAND
cec.EVENT_CONFIG_CHANGE # not implemented yet
cec.EVENT_ALERT
cec.EVENT_MENU_CHANGED
cec.EVENT_ACTIVATED
cec.EVENT_ALL
# the callback will receive a varying number and type of arguments that are
# specific to the event. Contact me if you're interested in using specific
# callbacks

cec.remove_callback(handler, events)

devices = cec.list_devices()

class Device:
   __init__(id)
   is_on()
   power_on()
   standby()
   address
   physical_address
   vendor
   osd_string
   cec_version
   language
   is_active()
   set_av_input(input)
   set_audio_input(input)
   transmit(opcode, parameters)

cec.is_active_source(addr)
cec.set_active_source() # use default device type
cec.set_active_source(device_type) # use a specific device type
cec.set_inactive_source()  # not implemented yet

cec.volume_up()
cec.volume_down()
cec.toggle_mute()
# TODO: audio status

cec.set_physical_address(addr)
cec.can_persist_config()
cec.persist_config()
cec.set_port(device, port)

# set arbitrary active source (in this case 2.0.0.0)
destination = cec.CECDEVICE_BROADCAST
opcode = cec.CEC_OPCODE_ACTIVE_SOURCE
parameters = b'\x20\x00'
cec.transmit(destination, opcode, parameters)

• Add support for libCEC >= 5
• Windows support
• Support for setting CEC initiator
• Python 3.10 compatibility

• Implement cec.EVENT_COMMAND callback
• Fix several crashes/memory leaks related to callbacks
• Add possibility to use a method as a callback
• Limit maximum number of parameters passed to transmit()
• Fix compilation error with GCC >= 8

• Python 3 support ( @nforro )
• Implement is_active_source, set_active_source, transmit ( @nforro )
• libcec4 compatibility ( @nforro )

• re-release of version 0.2.4. Original release failed and version number is now lost

• libcec3 compatibility

• Add device.h to manifest
• Initial pip release

• Fix deadlock
• Add repr for Device

• Fix deadlock in Device

• Add initial callback implementation
• Fix libcec 1.6.0 backwards compatibility support

• Add libcec 1.6.0 backwards compatibility
• Known Bug: no longer compatible with libcec 2.1.0 and later

• First stable release

Copyright (C) 2013 Austin Hendrix namniart@gmail.com

This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program. If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/.