15 ms·

Automator is the most useful, powerful and underrated feature of OSX. It makes me sad how almost nobody talks about it.

by weslly 11y ago

cefstat 11y ago
One reason I don't like Automator so much is that it forces me think where to save the workflows I create. Automator has a very iTunes-like interface and I would expect that it takes care of organizing the created workflows. Actually, I think the Workflow app for iOS has nailed this down perfectly (together with integration of the workflows with the rest of the system).
- vladdanilov 11y ago
  You may go to Script / Applescript Editor Preferences and check "Show Script menu in menu bar". This way you can have scripts organized in folders and available through the menu bar. Console apps / Shell scripts supported as well and run in the background. I believe you can create a symbolic link to have them indexed by Spotlight as well.
Watabou 11y ago
That and the related automation scripts. I would have thought that now that they introduced Javascript for Automation (similar to Applescript), it would be a lot more popular and would spur a lot of interest in creating workflows. So far, I've not seen anything. I do use javascript for automation myself. A useful "trick" is to write Javascript using Script Editor, save the script as a .app file and place it in /Applications or similar and have Spotlight execute that Script. I've done things like Empty Trash, Lock Screen, launching a new Swift Playground (too many steps to do that with Xcode alone), quitting all foreground apps, etc. Almost makes Spotlight act like Alfred or Quicksilver. I would really like to see what other people can come up.
- oalders 11y ago
  Do you have any of these scripts publicly available?
  - Watabou 11y ago
    I do: https://github.com/ajh17/Scripts https://github.com/ajh17/Scripts
- szymon_k 11y ago
  I do the same! I have "dock" and "undock" apps for switching between mobile, and, ekhem, docked state for my macbook (switching wifi, turning bluetooth on/off, unomounting USB drive, etc). I also have "move tabs to chrome", because I use safari for everyday and chrome for dev, and sometimes I start something in safari and it turns out it should be in chrome. Also "Chrome Incognito" for quick incognito sessions (cmd-space, "incognito", enter). Very useful!
  - Watabou 11y ago
    Oh nice tip on the Incognito mode ;). I wonder if Safari has a flag like that too.
- vladdanilov 11y ago
  I also find Script menu (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9586970 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9586970) very useful. Perfect for utilities, starting SSH sessions, mounting drives, etc.

Automator is the most useful, powerful and underrated feature of OSX. It makes me sad how almost nobody talks about it.

by weslly 11y ago

Automator is the most useful, powerful and underrated feature of OSX. It makes me sad how almost nobody talks about it.

One reason I don't like Automator so much is that it forces me think where to save the workflows I create. Automator has a very iTunes-like interface and I would expect that it takes care of organizing the created workflows. Actually, I think the Workflow app for iOS has nailed this down perfectly (together with integration of the workflows with the rest of the system).

vladdanilov 11y ago
You may go to Script / Applescript Editor Preferences and check "Show Script menu in menu bar". This way you can have scripts organized in folders and available through the menu bar. Console apps / Shell scripts supported as well and run in the background. I believe you can create a symbolic link to have them indexed by Spotlight as well.

Watabou 11y ago

That and the related automation scripts. I would have thought that now that they introduced Javascript for Automation (similar to Applescript), it would be a lot more popular and would spur a lot of interest in creating workflows. So far, I've not seen anything. I do use javascript for automation myself. A useful "trick" is to write Javascript using Script Editor, save the script as a .app file and place it in /Applications or similar and have Spotlight execute that Script. I've done things like Empty Trash, Lock Screen, launching a new Swift Playground (too many steps to do that with Xcode alone), quitting all foreground apps, etc. Almost makes Spotlight act like Alfred or Quicksilver. I would really like to see what other people can come up.

oalders 11y ago
Do you have any of these scripts publicly available?
- Watabou 11y ago
  I do: https://github.com/ajh17/Scripts https://github.com/ajh17/Scripts
szymon_k 11y ago
I do the same! I have "dock" and "undock" apps for switching between mobile, and, ekhem, docked state for my macbook (switching wifi, turning bluetooth on/off, unomounting USB drive, etc). I also have "move tabs to chrome", because I use safari for everyday and chrome for dev, and sometimes I start something in safari and it turns out it should be in chrome. Also "Chrome Incognito" for quick incognito sessions (cmd-space, "incognito", enter). Very useful!
- Watabou 11y ago
  Oh nice tip on the Incognito mode ;). I wonder if Safari has a flag like that too.
vladdanilov 11y ago
I also find Script menu (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9586970 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9586970) very useful. Perfect for utilities, starting SSH sessions, mounting drives, etc.