mac-jxa

# JXA JavaScript for Automation (JXA) automates macOS apps via the `Application()` bridge. It runs on JavaScriptCore (ES5). ## Language Constraints - Use `var` (not `let`/`const`) - Use for-loops (JXA arrays lack `.map()`, `.filter()`, `.forEach()`) - Return a JSON string from `run()` (not an object) ```javascript // WRONG: JXA arrays don't have .map() // var names = app.windows().map(function(w) { return w.name(); }); // CORRECT: use a for-loop var windows = app.windows(); var names = []; for (var i = 0; i < windows.length; i++) { names.push(windows[i].name()); } ``` ## Script Files Script files define a `function run(argv)` entry point. `osascript` calls it and prints the return value. The function must be named `run`, not `_run`. ```javascript #!/usr/bin/env osascript -l JavaScript function run(argv) { var finder = Application("Finder"); var items = finder.desktop.items(); var names = []; for (var i = 0; i < items.length; i++) { names.push(items[i].name()); } return JSON.stringify(names); } ``` ## Tips - Use `properties()` for batch reads instead of individual getters - Use `.whose()` for filtering when the app supports it (pushes work to the app) - `Application.currentApplication()` accesses the current app context - Extract sdef for any app: `sdef /Applications/AppName.app`