I have a transformation function that takes in data, executes some instructions, and returns an output. This function is dynamic and not shipped with the binary. Currently, I’m executing it using JavaScriptCore.JSContext, which works well, but the function itself is written in JavaScript.
Is there a way to achieve something similar using Swift – such as executing a dynamic Swift script, either directly or through other means? I know this is possible on macOS, but I’m not sure about iOS. I’ve also heard that extensions might open up some possibilities here. Any insights or alternative approaches would be appreciated.
Scripting
RSS for tagScripting allows you to automate complex, repetitive, and time-consuming tasks by writing scripts that interact with apps, processes, and the operating system.
Posts under Scripting tag
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Hi all,
I'm developing a sandboxed Mac OS app that generates and compiles AppleScript files to automate tasks in Pages (and other iWork apps). The app creates an AppleScript file and writes it to the NSApplicationScriptsDirectory (i.e., ~/Library/Application Scripts/com.example.app), then compiles and executes it via NSUserAppleScriptTask.
On Mac OS Ventura, however, I get the following error in the console when trying to write the file:
[PagesModifier] Error creating or compiling the script: You are not allowed to save the file "PagesModifier_...applescript" in the folder "com.example.app"
Here are my current entitlements:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>com.apple.security.app-sandbox</key>
<true/>
<key>com.apple.security.application-groups</key>
<array/>
<key>com.apple.security.automation.apple-events</key>
<array>
<string>com.apple.iWork.Pages</string>
<string>com.apple.iWork.Numbers</string>
<string>com.apple.iWork.Keynote</string>
</array>
<key>com.apple.security.files.user-selected.read-write</key>
<true/>
<key>com.apple.security.scripting-targets</key>
<dict>
<key>com.apple.iWork.Keynote</key>
<array>
<string>com.apple.iWork.Keynote</string>
</array>
<key>com.apple.iWork.Numbers</key>
<array>
<string>com.apple.iWork.Numbers</string>
</array>
<key>com.apple.iWork.Pages</key>
<array>
<string>com.apple.iWork.Pages</string>
</array>
</dict>
<key>com.apple.security.temporary-exception.apple-events</key>
<array>
<string>com.apple.iWork.Pages</string>
<string>com.apple.iWork.Numbers</string>
<string>com.apple.iWork.Keynote</string>
</array>
<key>com.apple.security.temporary-exception.files.home-relative-path.read-write</key>
<array>
<string>Library/Application Scripts/com.example.app</string>
</array>
</dict>
</plist>
I suspect the issue might be due to sandbox restrictions on dynamically creating or modifying the Application Scripts directory on Ventura. Has anyone experienced something similar or have any suggestions on how to work around this?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
Automation & Scripting
Tags:
Entitlements
Scripting
AppleScript
App Sandbox
Issue -
Safari application not fetched from system_profile command
Use case -
We are trying to get list of installed applications in the mac. For this we use System_profiler command to fetch the details list. It is working good, but the thing is , It doesnt fetch Safari app as an installed Application.
Command used -
**/usr/sbin/system_profiler SPApplicationsDataType**
Can anyone suggest any other way to fetch the installed applications list from the mac , which includes all the apps (including safari app) and remains effective ?
Instead of a .sdef file (or older formats) made in advance and stored in an app’s bundle, I wonder if the script dictionary can be set soon after the app opens? I seen related API, with a note that the scripting file reader ultimately calls that API. I grok about 90% of that API, but I’m not sure it’s possible.
I updated my computer to Sonoma, and now my LaunchDaemon will not load.
I have the following setup :
File in /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.startup.plist
like this :
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>Label</key>
<string>com.startup</string>
<key>ProgramArguments</key>
<array>
<string>/usr/local/bin/bash</string>
<string>/Library/Scripts/Startup/startup.sh</string>
</array>
<key>RunAtLoad</key>
<true/>
<key>StandardErrorPath</key>
<string>/tmp/com.startup.stderr</string>
<key>StandardOutPath</key>
<string>/tmp/com.startup.stdout</string>
</dict>
</plist>
File in File in /Library/Scripts/Startup/startup.sh
#!/bin/zsh
PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/Users:/Users/root:/Users/root/Scripts:/Library/Scripts:/Library/Scripts/Startup
#Load modules for Fuse
/Library/Filesystems/macfuse.fs/Contents/Resources/load_macfuse
/usr/sbin/sysctl -w vfs.generic.macfuse.tunables.allow_other=1
#Connect to XXXXXX_net
/bin/sleep 28
myip=0
while [ $myip = 0 ]
do
/bin/sleep 3
myip=$(ifconfig -l | xargs -n1 ipconfig getifaddr)
done
/usr/local/bin/sshfs XXXX@XXXXXX.net: /Volumes/XXXXXX.net -o local,auto_cache,reconnect,ServerAliveInterval=15,ServerAliveCountMax=3,ConnectTimeout=5,daemon_timeout=60,iosize=2097152,volname=XXXXXX.net,allow_other,defer_permissions,async_read,Ciphers=aes128-gcm@openssh.com,Cipher=aes128-gcm@openssh.com,compression=no
And then we need some commands to be run as root user during boot :
/private/etc/sudoers.d/startup-script-nopasswd
username ALL = (root) NOPASSWD: /usr/sbin/sysctl
username ALL = (root) NOPASSWD: /usr/local/bin/sshfs
As of now, I cant even get the /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.startup.plist
to run after i updated the macOS to Sonoma ….
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
Processes & Concurrency
Tags:
macOS
Zsh
Scripting
Command Line Tools
I’ve developed an automation and shortcut using the iPhone Shortcuts app in IOS 18, something that hasn’t been done before. With support from Apple’s customer service, I was encouraged to bring this idea to life.
The automation’s purpose is to open a specified iOS app, move it to the background, and use a txt database in Folders to ensure uninterrupted data flow and continuous connectivity—especially useful for health apps where wearable devices need consistent, uninterrupted operation and monitoring (e.g., doctor tracking or wearable device connectivity). I would like to share the Automation and the Shortcut with the community.
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
Automation & Scripting
Tags:
Health and Fitness
Scripting
Shortcuts
I would like to create a MailKit extension that will allow me to manage my existing messages. I would like to move them around form folder to folder and reqad and update their headers to store some metadata that will be used by the extension.
Looking at the documentation for MailKit suggests that I can only implement 4 types of handlers (content blocker, action handler, compose handler and security handler). I can’t see anything in the docs about being able to get a list of messages in the inbox and manipulate them.
Am I missing something?
I’d love to hear from someone who knows more about this topic before I get into a dead-end rabbit hole.
cheers,
-tomek
I want to use the Shortcuts app on macOS Monterey to modify M4A/AAC audio file metadata for files that I have ripped from CD to my local Music app library.
How can I use a regular expression on track titles to replace text that matches a certain regex pattern?
I have already written the regex, I just need help with the Shortcuts app.
I've started my shortcut with a "Find Music" action connected to a "Repeat with Each" loop action.
Within the loop, I use a "Get Details of Music" action to get the title, which is passed to a "Replace Text" action using my regex.
I just don't know how to write the correct new title into the music file's title/name metadata field. I tried a "Rename File" action with type "iTunes media" to try to set the "Title" field, but the field wasn't updated either in the Music app or in the M4A/AAC file itself. I couldn't find any other actions that seemed like they might be able to modify the field.
I'd prefer a solution that goes through the Music app / its APIs, rather than directly modifying the M4A on the file system, because the latter would force me to have the Music app scan for changed files after the files we're modified.
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
Automation & Scripting
Tags:
Apple Music API
Automator
Scripting
Shortcuts