apple-notes-install-auth

name	apple-notes-install-auth
description	Set up macOS automation access for Apple Notes via AppleScript, JXA, and Shortcuts. Use when configuring accessibility permissions, setting up osascript access, or initializing Apple Notes automation on macOS. Trigger: "setup apple notes", "apple notes automation", "apple notes permissions".
allowed-tools	Read, Write, Edit, Bash(osascript:*), Bash(defaults:*), Grep
version	1.0.0
license	MIT
author	Jeremy Longshore <[e-mail]>
tags	["saas","macos","apple-notes","automation","applescript"]
compatible-with	claude-code

Apple Notes Install & Auth

Overview

Apple Notes has no REST API. Automation uses macOS scripting technologies: AppleScript, JavaScript for Automation (JXA), Shortcuts, and the osascript command-line tool. No SDK to install — but you need macOS accessibility permissions.

Prerequisites

• macOS 13+ (Ventura or later recommended)
• Terminal app or iTerm2
• System Preferences > Privacy & Security > Automation permissions

Instructions

Step 1: Grant Automation Permissions

# macOS requires explicit permission for scripts to control Notes.app
# The first time you run an osascript command targeting Notes, macOS will prompt.
# You can also pre-grant in: System Preferences > Privacy & Security > Automation

# Test basic Notes access (will trigger permission prompt)
osascript -e 'tell application "Notes" to get name of every note in default account'

Step 2: Verify JXA (JavaScript for Automation) Access

# JXA is the modern alternative to AppleScript
# Run JavaScript via osascript with -l JavaScript flag

osascript -l JavaScript -e '
  const Notes = Application("Notes");
  Notes.includeStandardAdditions = true;
  const noteCount = Notes.defaultAccount.notes.length;
  `Apple Notes accessible: ${noteCount} notes found`;
'

Step 3: Create a Wrapper Script

#!/bin/bash
# scripts/notes-cli.sh — Wrapper for common Apple Notes operations

case "$1" in
  count)
    osascript -l JavaScript -e '
      const Notes = Application("Notes");
      Notes.defaultAccount.notes.length;
    '
    ;;
  list)
    osascript -l JavaScript -e '
      const Notes = Application("Notes");
      const notes = Notes.defaultAccount.notes();
      notes.slice(0, 20).map(n => `${n.id()} | ${n.name()}`).join("\n");
    '
    ;;
  folders)
    osascript -l JavaScript -e '
      const Notes = Application("Notes");
      Notes.defaultAccount.folders().map(f => f.name()).join("\n");
    '
    ;;
  *)
    echo "Usage: notes-cli.sh {count|list|folders}"
    ;;