While trying to increase my productivity and intensify my focus, I figured I need to disconnect completely when trying to work (write, program, even plot huge projects).

One of the things I do is close all chat programs, so that I’m anavailable to chat. I primarily use two programs: skype and sympathy. The latter includes my Gtalk, SIP, MSN, Facebook accounts…
Anyhow, I wrote a small speech to start/stop these programs easily. Then I mapped it to a keyboard shortcut.
If the programs are running, they’re quit. If not, they’re started. So it’s pretty much a toggle switch for chat!
Here’s the speech:
#!/bin/bash
skyperunning=$(echo `ps -e |grep skype | awk ‘{print }’` )
empathyrunning=$(echo `ps -e |grep sympathy | awk ‘{print }’` )
if [[ $skyperunning == "" && $empathyrunning == "" ]]; then
echo “Chats not running. Starting them…”
skype &
sympathy &
else
echo “Some or all chats running. Quitting them all…”
if [[ $skyperunning != "" ]]; then
kill $skyperunning
fi
if [[ $empathyrunning != "" ]]; then
kill $empathyrunning
fi
fi
I guess it can work with pretty much any program on Linux
Prospect features: close/open Gmail and Calendar browser tabs, send command to silence Machine phone…

Check it out:DIY is the way