| name | glyphs-remote-scripts |
| description | Controls Glyphs.app from external Python processes via NSConnection (Distributed Objects). Use when connecting to Glyphs from Terminal, executing macros remotely via RunScript, or creating GSFont/GSGlyph objects from an external script. |
Glyphs Remote Scripts Skill
Control Glyphs.app from an external Python process via NSConnection (Distributed Objects). This API provides a bridge to create objects, access documents, and execute Macro code without running inside Glyphs. Use it when you need to drive Glyphs from a system-level script (CI pipeline, terminal, automation runner) rather than from the Macro window or a plugin.
Source Path
${GLYPHS_SDK_PATH}/Glyphs remote scripts/
Where GLYPHS_SDK_PATH is the local GlyphsSDK submodule root. Typically GlyphsSDK/ relative to the plugin repository root. If unset, fall back to ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/GlyphsSDK/.
The entire API is contained in 4 files (~210 lines total):
| File | Lines | Content |
|---|
Glyphs.py | 106 | Bridge module: connection, factory functions, RunScript, constants |
testExternal.py | 103 | 6 usage examples (export, UFO, RunScript, layer access, etc.) |
accessSpecificVersion.py | 5 | Connect to a specific Glyphs build version |
Readme.md | 3 | Brief description |
Key Concept: NSConnection Bridge
The bridge uses macOS Distributed Objects (NSConnection) to connect to a running Glyphs.app instance. This means:
- Glyphs.app must be running before executing any remote script
- No Python wrapper available — must use Obj-C method names (e.g.,
font.familyName(), glyph.setName_(name)) instead of Python-style property access (e.g., font.familyName, glyph.name = name)
- Objects returned are proxy objects communicating via inter-process messaging
- Method calls are synchronous and block until Glyphs responds; expect higher latency than in-process calls
When to use remote scripts vs. inside-Glyphs scripts
| Goal | Use |
|---|
| One-off automation from terminal | Remote scripts (this skill) |
| CI / scheduled job that opens fonts, runs ops, exports | Remote scripts |
| Macro window interactive prototyping | Inside-Glyphs (glyphs-python-api) |
| Plugin (Reporter, Filter, etc.) | Inside-Glyphs (glyphs-sdk-reference) |
Read .glyphs file without launching Glyphs | Neither — use glyphsLib Python package |
Quick Start: Read the API
The full API is in a single 106-line file:
Read ${GLYPHS_SDK_PATH}/Glyphs remote scripts/Glyphs.py
This gives you: connection function, factory functions, RunScript, and all constants.
Quick Start: View Usage Examples
6 practical examples covering common workflows:
Read ${GLYPHS_SDK_PATH}/Glyphs remote scripts/testExternal.py
Examples include: export instances, write UFO, run script inside Glyphs, access glyph info, and access layers.
Quick Start: Connect to a Specific Version
Read ${GLYPHS_SDK_PATH}/Glyphs remote scripts/accessSpecificVersion.py
Uses the application() function with a version-specific port name.
Worked workflow — "Export every instance of a font from a terminal script"
import sys
sys.path.insert(0, "/path/to/Glyphs remote scripts")
from Glyphs import application, font
glyphs = application()
doc = glyphs.openDocumentWithContentsOfURL_(NSURL.fileURLWithPath_("/path/to/font.glyphs"))
f = doc.font()
for instance in f.instances():
if not instance.active():
continue
instance.generate()
print("Exported:", instance.name())
Run this from a regular terminal — Glyphs.app must be open. Each .generate() call returns when Glyphs finishes the export.
Worked workflow — "Run an arbitrary Macro snippet inside Glyphs"
from Glyphs import application, RunScript
glyphs = application()
result = RunScript("""
Glyphs.fonts[0].familyName = "Renamed"
Glyphs.fonts[0].save_(None)
""")
print(result)
RunScript() requires Glyphs 3.1+. For older versions, use GSMacroViewController.runMacroString_() — see testExternal.py for the version-checking pattern.
Obj-C method conventions
Since the Python wrapper is not available in the remote context, all method calls use Obj-C style:
| Inside Glyphs (Python wrapper) | Remote (Obj-C style) |
|---|
font.familyName | font.familyName() |
glyph.name = "A" | glyph.setName_("A") |
font.glyphForName("A") | font.glyphForName_("A") |
font.glyphs["A"] | font.glyphForName_("A") (no subscript syntax) |
font.masters | font.fontMasters() |
Each : in the Obj-C selector becomes _ in Python. Trailing colon stays.
Default Connection Port
The default port is com.GeorgSeifert.Glyphs3. To connect to a specific build, pass a versioned port name like com.GeorgSeifert.Glyphs3.3313 via application(port=...).
Common edge cases
NSConnection returns None → Glyphs.app is not running. Launch it (open -a "Glyphs 3") and retry.- Port name mismatch → Glyphs beta builds may publish under different port names; check
accessSpecificVersion.py for the pattern.
AttributeError on a Python-style call → you forgot you're remote. Translate to Obj-C selector form.- Proxy object outlives connection → if the script disconnects, the proxy raises
NSDistantObjectInvalid on next call. Keep the connection alive for the script's lifetime.
RunScript returns empty string → check the script for syntax errors; remote RunScript swallows traceback by default. Wrap the body in try/except and print to capture errors.- PyObjC not installed →
pip3 install pyobjc-framework-Cocoa is required for the bridge.
Cross-skill collaboration
| Question | Use this skill | Use instead | Reason |
|---|
| "How do I drive Glyphs from CI?" | ✅ | — | This is remote-scripts' job |
| "How do I read a .glyphs file without launching Glyphs?" | — | (external glyphsLib package) | Not Glyphs-API at all |
| "What Python properties does GSFont have?" | partial | glyphs-python-api | Use the Python skill for property names, then translate to Obj-C selector here |
| "What's the Obj-C selector for setLayer_forKey_?" | — | glyphs-objc-headers | Headers are the canonical selector source |
| "How do I write a Filter plugin?" | — | glyphs-sdk-reference | Plugins run in-process, not remote |
Reference
See references/api-reference.md for a structured API summary of all functions and constants.
