app_control

Application control (macOS)

Use shell and AppleScript to launch and control apps.

Open by app name

open -a "TextEdit"
open -a "Safari"
open -a "Calculator"
open -a "Cursor"
open -a "Terminal"
open -a "Finder"
open -a "Notes"

Open a file

Default app:

open /path/to/file.txt

Specific app:

open -a "TextEdit" /path/to/file.txt

URL:

open "https://example.com"

Editor with content

echo "content here" > /tmp/tempfile.txt && open -a "TextEdit" /tmp/tempfile.txt

Projects / folders

Open folder in Cursor:

open -a "Cursor" /path/to/project

Open in Finder:

open /path/to/folder

Quit

osascript -e 'quit app "TextEdit"'

Is it running?

pgrep -x "TextEdit" && echo "Running" || echo "Not running"

AppleScript (advanced)

Type into frontmost app:

osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to keystroke "Hello World"'

Shortcut:

osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to keystroke "s" using command down'

Bring to front:

osascript -e 'tell application "TextEdit" to activate'

Rules

1. On macOS, “notepad” → TextEdit unless the user names another app.
2. After open, confirm success when practical (e.g. pgrep).
3. Prefer write a temp file and open it over long keystroke typing.
4. Use osascript only when needed; it is fragile under focus changes.
5. After launching an app, a short sleep 1 before UI automation can help.
6. For “open notepad and write X”: write X to a file, open in TextEdit.