Welcome to Useful Scripts, a collection of small utilities and tools I've developed to make work and life more efficient. These scripts cover a range of purposes from image processing to automation, and are typically lightweight, easy to run, and cross-platform when possible.
This repository serves as a hub for scripts that don't warrant a full repository of their own. If you're looking for helpful one-off tools, this is the place.
redactor_gui.py is a simple, cross-platform Python GUI tool that allows you to selectively redact parts of images either by blurring or black boxing. It supports:
- Loading images from disk
- Pasting images from clipboard
- Drawing boxes to redact regions
- Undoing redactions
- Saving the modified image
- Redacting sensitive screenshots
- Censoring faces or text before sharing images
- Easy visual editing without opening Photoshop
- Python 3.9 or higher (tested on 3.11)
- Pillow for image manipulation
If you don’t already have Pillow installed, run:
pip install pillowIf using a virtual environment:
python -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate # macOS/Linux
# OR
venv\Scripts\activate.bat # Windows
pip install pillowpython redactor_gui.pyOnce launched, you'll see a simple interface that lets you open or paste an image, draw redaction areas, and save the result. Use the menu bar to switch between blur and black box modes.
If you're working on Windows and want a version tailored specifically for that platform, use redactor_gui_win.py. It offers the same blur, pixelate, and blackout tools as the cross-platform script but is packaged for Windows-only environments. Launch it with:
python redactor_gui_win.pyThese are additional tools I’ve built that live in their own repositories due to size, specialization, or broader utility:
A Python-based tool to streamline academic advising. It helps advisors track notes for students, generate summaries, and manage documentation—integrated with OneDrive or Teams shortcuts for ease of use.
Generates detailed reports from Canvas LMS data, including student participation, grades, and login activity. Designed for instructors who want deeper insight than the default LMS analytics.
An automated tool for auditing and verifying AI disclosure forms submitted by students. Designed to batch-process disclosures and flag missing or unusual entries in educational settings.
Download and clean up YouTube video transcripts (auto-generated or uploaded), making them easier to use for accessibility, notes, or further analysis.
A web-based tool that helps educators generate effective, constructive feedback using LLMs by selecting predefined response structures and prompt elements.
Right now, this is a personal repository of useful tools. Feel free to fork and adapt! If you'd like to suggest improvements or contribute fixes, open an issue or PR.
I'm a psychology professor and educational technologist who builds tools to solve practical problems. If you're interested in psychology, automation, education, or open-source tools, check out my other projects or reach out.