This script redirects distracting websites to your computer’s “localhost” (a blank page), helping you focus. The Python Website Blocker is a simple tool designed to make blocking unwanted sites easy and effective.
⚠️ WARNING: THIS IS AN ADVANCED SCRIPT
- This script edits a system file. You must run it as an Administrator (or with
sudo). - A mistake can temporarily mess up your internet access. Be careful!
The hosts File
On Windows, Mac, and Linux, there’s a file called hosts that maps domain names to IP addresses.
The Script
import time
# Use the correct path for your OS
REDIRECT_IP = "127.0.0.1"
SITES_TO_BLOCK = [
"www.reddit.com",
"reddit.com",
"www.facebook.com",
"facebook.com"
]
def block_sites():
print("Focus Mode ON. Run as Administrator!")
try:
with open(HOSTS_PATH, 'r+') as f:
content = f.read()
for site in SITES_TO_BLOCK:
if site not in content:
f.write(f"{REDIRECT_IP} {site}\n")
print("Websites blocked.")
except PermissionError:
print("Error: Please run this script as an Administrator (or with sudo).")
except Exception as e:
print(f"An error occurred: {e}")
# Call the function to block sites
block_sites()Challenge: Can you write an unblock_sites() function that reads the file, finds the lines with those sites, and removes them?
