Here is a simple Maya function that gets the parent of the passed object. Note the documentation tag.

def getParent():
	'''This def returns the parent of the passed object'''
	selObject = cmds.ls(sl=True)
	par = cmds.listRelatives(p=True)
	return par

myPar = getParent()
print myPar[0]

Now, for the fun part, you can use something like this to find out what is going on with the def. print getParent.__doc__

You can even store the documentation into a variable as you would any string. helpDoc = getParent.__doc__.

Commenting your code:Brilliant. Documenting your code:Priceless

http://techarttiki.blogspot.com/2008/08/photoshop-scripting-with-python.html

The ability to interface with other applications via python is huge. I am already planning some validation and error checking (texture sizes, etc) scripts for work using this. Thanks to the tech art tiki for this amazing info!

def moveMeshPivotsToJointPos(*args):
	allSelNodes = cmds.ls(sl=True)
	selectedJoints = cmds.ls( sl=True, type='joint' )
	print selectedJoints
	if not len(selectedJoints) == 1:
		print 'Please select one joint'
	else:
		selectedJoint = selectedJoints[0]
		cmds.select(selectedJoint, replace=True)
		selJointPos = cmds.xform(query=True, rp=True, ws=True)
		for eachSelNode in allSelNodes:
			if not eachSelNode == selectedJoint:
				print eachSelNode
				cmds.select(eachSelNode, replace=True)
				cmds.xform(eachSelNode, ws=True,
                                piv=(selJointPos[0], selJointPos[1], selJointPos[2]))
				cmds.select(selectedJoint, replace=True)
				cmds.select(eachSelNode, add=True)
				mel.eval(cons + '-mo;')
		cmds.select(cl=True)
cons = 'pointConstraint'
moveMeshPivotsToJointPos(cons)

Changing the cons variable to the name of different constraints will allow the user to dictate the moving of pivots and the type of constraint to execute, all in one shot.

I suppose a simple UI is in order to change the cons variable.

Below is a commented version of the script, so you know what each line is doing …
moveMeshPivotsToJointPos.py

http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/bristlebot
I need to resolder the battery wires and do some other mods next weekend.

Here is what it looks and sounds like …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3cZBj7ZKZY

The parts should cost about 25 bucks, although I’ll need to buy a soldering iron too.  I’ll update as I aquire the parts and start building the mooftronic.