# Text-to-Speech Tool

This utility converts text into spoken audio using Google's Text-to-Speech API via the `gTTS` library. It supports saving to MP3, reading from text files, and optional immediate playback using the system's default media player.

**Modules Used:**
*   `gTTS`: To interface with Google Translate's text-to-speech API.
*   [[programming/python/modules/argparse-module|argparse]]: To handle command-line arguments.
*   `os`: To play the generated file (system dependent) and check file paths.

## Installation

```bash
pip install gTTS
```

## The Code

Save this as `speak.py`.

```python
from gtts import gTTS
import argparse
import os
import sys

def text_to_speech(text, lang, output_file, play):
    try:
        print(f"Converting text to speech ({lang})...")
        # slow=False reads at normal speed
        tts = gTTS(text=text, lang=lang, slow=False)
        
        tts.save(output_file)
        print(f"Saved to {output_file}")
        
        if play:
            print("Playing audio...")
            # Basic cross-platform playback attempt
            if sys.platform == "win32":
                os.startfile(output_file)
            elif sys.platform == "darwin":
                os.system(f"afplay {output_file}")
            else:
                # Linux
                os.system(f"xdg-open {output_file}")
                
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error: {e}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="CLI Text-to-Speech Tool")
    parser.add_argument("input", help="Text to speak OR path to a text file")
    parser.add_argument("-l", "--lang", default="en", help="Language code (default: en)")
    parser.add_argument("-o", "--output", default="output.mp3", help="Output filename (default: output.mp3)")
    parser.add_argument("-p", "--play", action="store_true", help="Play the audio after saving")
    
    args = parser.parse_args()
    
    # Check if input is a file path
    text_data = args.input
    if os.path.isfile(args.input):
        try:
            with open(args.input, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
                text_data = f.read()
            print(f"Read {len(text_data)} characters from {args.input}")
        except Exception as e:
            print(f"Error reading file: {e}")
            sys.exit(1)
            
    text_to_speech(text_data, args.lang, args.output, args.play)
```

## Usage

```bash
# Speak a simple phrase and play it
python speak.py "Hello, this is a test." --play

# Read from a file and save to Spanish audio
python speak.py story.txt --lang es --output story.mp3
```

[[programming/python/python]]