applescript-open-app

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.