macos-automation

Purpose

This skill automates tasks on macOS using tools like AppleScript, JXA, Shortcuts, Automator, osascript, System Events, and the accessibility API, enabling script-based control of apps and system functions.

When to Use

• Automate repetitive workflows, such as file management or app interactions.

• Integrate with macOS apps for custom behaviors, like triggering actions via keyboard shortcuts.

• Script complex sequences involving multiple apps, e.g., when Shortcuts alone isn't sufficient.

• Handle accessibility tasks, like UI element manipulation, when apps don't expose direct APIs.

• Use for rapid prototyping of automations in environments like shell scripts or IDEs.

Key Capabilities

• Execute AppleScript via osascript for app control, e.g., manipulating Finder or Safari.

• Run JXA (JavaScript for Automation) to interact with macOS APIs, supporting modern JavaScript syntax.

• Create and invoke Shortcuts programmatically for quick actions, like sharing files.

• Use Automator workflows as scripts, convertible to applications or services.

• Leverage System Events for UI automation, including keyboard/mouse simulation via accessibility API.

• Access macOS-specific APIs like NSAppleScript for embedding in Objective-C/Swift code.

Usage Patterns

• Run scripts from the command line using osascript; for example, pipe AppleScript code directly.

• Embed JXA in Node.js environments by loading the JXA module and executing via Application('Finder').activate() .

• Chain Shortcuts with other tools by exporting as URLs and invoking via open command.

• Use Automator to build workflows, then save as .applescript files for osascript execution.

• For accessibility, ensure "Accessibility" is enabled in System Preferences > Security & Privacy, then use System Events to target UI elements like tell application "System Events" to click button "OK" of window "Main" .

• Always check for required permissions, such as Full Disk Access, before running scripts that access files.

Common Commands/API

• osascript CLI: Use osascript -e 'tell application "Finder" to make new folder at desktop' to create a folder; handle errors by checking the exit code.

• JXA Example: In a JavaScript file, use const app = Application('Safari'); app.activate(); app.documents[0].url = 'https://example.com'; to open and navigate a URL.

• Shortcuts Integration: Run a shortcut via shortcuts run "My Shortcut" -i '{"input": "text"}' ; pass inputs as JSON for parameterized execution.

• Automator API: Convert workflows to AppleScript with tell application "Automator" to run workflow "path/to/workflow" .

• System Events API: For UI automation, use osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to keystroke "a" using {command down}' to simulate Command+A.

• Config Formats: Store scripts in plain text files (.applescript) and invoke with osascript path/to/script.applescript ; for JXA, use ES6 modules in .js files.

Integration Notes

• Integrate with other tools by wrapping osascript calls in shell scripts; e.g., use $ export APPLESCRIPT_PATH='/path/to/script' and run via osascript $APPLESCRIPT_PATH .

• For JXA, require the OSA module in Node.js: npm install osa and use const OSA = require('osa'); OSA.runAppleScript('...') .

• If accessibility features are needed, set the env var $ACCESSIBILITY_ENABLED=1 after granting permissions in System Preferences.

• Auth/keys: For scripts accessing protected resources, use env vars like $osascript_API_KEY (though rare); more commonly, handle macOS permissions via tccutil CLI, e.g., tccutil reset AppleEvents com.example.app to reset access.

• Embed in larger apps by compiling AppleScript into bundles or using JXA in Electron apps for cross-tool integration.

Error Handling

• Check osascript exit codes: If a script fails, capture with osascript -e 'script' 2>&1 and parse stderr for messages like "Execution error: ...".

• In JXA, wrap code in try-catch: try { Application('Finder').activate(); } catch (e) { console.error(e.message); } to handle app not found errors.

• For Shortcuts, verify with shortcuts run "Name" --wait-for-result and check output for failures.

• Use Automator's built-in logging by enabling in workflow settings, then review logs via Console app.

• General pattern: Always run scripts with elevated privileges if needed, e.g., via sudo osascript -e '...' , and handle permission errors by prompting users to adjust settings.

Concrete Usage Examples

• Automate App Launch and Action: Use osascript to open Safari and load a page: osascript -e 'tell application "Safari" to open location "https://example.com"' followed by 'tell application "Safari" to activate' . This is useful for daily workflows; extend by adding error checks.

• UI Automation with Shortcuts: Create a Shortcut to resize windows, then invoke via CLI: shortcuts run "Resize Window" -i '{"app": "Finder", "width": 800}' . Combine with JXA for dynamic inputs, e.g., in a script: Application('Shortcuts').run('Resize Window', {input: JSON.stringify({app: 'Finder'})}) .

Graph Relationships

• Related to: macos cluster (direct parent), applescript skill (sub-skill for scripting), shortcuts skill (integrated tool), automation cluster (broader category).

• Dependencies: Requires macos-os (base system), interacts with accessibility-api skill for UI tasks.