| name | applescript-open-app |
| description | Open, launch, activate, or quit macOS apps by name using AppleScript or osascript. Use when the user asks to open/launch/activate/quit an app ("open Xcode", "quit Discord"), or when AppleScript-based app control is required. |
AppleScript Open App
Overview
Use a performance-first launch path for opening apps (open -a) with AppleScript fallback for compatibility, and AppleScript for graceful quits.
Quick Start
- Prefer
scripts/open_app.sh for a reliable one-liner interface.
- Prefer
scripts/quit_app.sh for quitting an app.
- Pass the app name exactly as it appears in Finder (for example, "Xcode", "Safari", "Final Cut Pro").
scripts/open_app.sh "Safari"
scripts/quit_app.sh "Discord"
Tasks
Open an app by name
- Run
scripts/open_app.sh "<App Name>".
- The script uses fast LaunchServices activation first, then falls back to AppleScript activation only when needed.
- If the app is not installed, surface the AppleScript error and ask for the correct name.
Open a new instance (only when asked)
- Use
open -na "<App Name>" only if the user explicitly requests a new instance.
- Otherwise use AppleScript activation.
Quit an app by name
- Run
scripts/quit_app.sh "<App Name>".
- The script checks whether the app is running before sending
quit, avoiding slow error-path exits for already-closed apps.
- If the app is not installed, surface the AppleScript error and ask for the correct name.
Handle ambiguous names
- If multiple apps share a name, ask for the exact display name or bundle id.
- If a bundle id is provided, use AppleScript with
application id.
osascript -e 'tell application id "com.apple.Safari" to activate'
AppleScript snippet
osascript -e 'tell application "Safari" to activate'
osascript -e 'tell application "Safari" to quit'
Resources
scripts/
open_app.sh: Fast open -a launch/activate with AppleScript fallback.quit_app.sh: Graceful AppleScript quit with running-state guard.
