source: trunk/appswitch/appswitch/README@ 211

Last change on this file since 211 was 160, checked in by Nicholas Riley, 21 years ago

package-appswitch.sh: replace pbxbuild with xcodebuild; fix permissions

appswitch/appswitch.1: updated for actual release date

appswitch/main.c: updated for 1.0.1; fix PSN width, resolves #1; fix
compiler warning

appswitch/README: updated for actual release date; PB -> Xcode;
updated timings; updated version history

File size: 3.3 KB
RevLine 
[160]1appswitch 1.0.1 [16 May 2004]
[156]2===============
[91]3
4A command-line interface to the Mac OS X process manager.
5
6Written by Nicholas Riley <mailto:appswitch@sabi.net>.
7Obtain updates from <http://web.sabi.net/nriley/software/>.
8
9WHAT IS IT?
10-----------
11
12If you use shell scripts to automate Mac OS X applications, you may
13need to switch between applications. You could use AppleScript via
14osascript(1), but that would take several seconds for the script to
15compile and execute - or you could use appswitch, which works almost
16instantly.
17
18Say you're launching an X11 application from Terminal but the X server
19isn't in front when you need it. Use appswitch to fix the problem.
20
21Or, if you'd like a version of the ps(1) utility which understands the
22concept of OS X applications, appswitch can help.
23
24INSTALLATION
25------------
26
27The commands below install the 'appswitch' tool in /usr/local/bin,
28which is in the default path. You should subsequently be able to use
29'appswitch' by typing its name. If you wish to install it somewhere
30else, modify the install line as appropriate.
31
32% sudo /usr/bin/install -d /usr/local/bin /usr/local/man/man1
33% sudo /usr/bin/install -c build/appswitch /usr/local/bin
34% sudo /usr/bin/install -c appswitch.1 /usr/local/man/man1
35% rehash
36
37Uninstallation:
38
[156]39% sudo rm -f /usr/local/bin/appswitch /usr/local/man/man1/appswitch.1
[91]40
41COMPILATION
42-----------
43
[160]44An Xcode project, 'appswitch.xcode', is included. A precompiled
45binary is also provided. 'appswitch' was developed and tested under
46Mac OS 10.3.3 with the April 2004 Developer Tools, and does not
47require any additional software to build.
[91]48
49USAGE
50-----
51
52Just type 'appswitch' by itself to receive usage information. See the
53manual page (man appswitch) for more information.
54
55If you're curious about the speed difference between appswitch and
56other methods, this should give you some indication.
57
[160]58appswitch -a Emacs 0.00s user 0.02s system 55% cpu 0.054 total
59appswitch -i com.gnu.Emacs 0.00s user 0.04s system 63% cpu 0.063 total
60open -a Emacs 0.32s user 0.12s system 50% cpu 0.876 total
61launch -a Emacs 0.00s user 0.03s system 35% cpu 0.085 total
[91]62osascript -e 'tell application "Emacs" to activate'
[160]63 0.41s user 0.23s system 67% cpu 0.949 total
[91]64
65The above tests were performed on a PowerBook G4/800; slower systems
66should show more dramatic differences.
67
68COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, BUG REPORTS, ETC.
69----------------------------------------
70
71Please send to the author, Nicholas Riley, at <appswitch@sabi.net>.
72
73VERSION HISTORY
74---------------
75
[160]761.0.1 - 16 May 2004
77 - fixed crash matching applications with no bundle identifier
78 - fixed process listing PSN column width
[99]791.0 - 19 February 2003
80 - added description of -q delay bug (no workaround)
811.0b3 - 13 February 2003
82 - display spaces instead of ? characters when unprintable
83 - properly handle very narrow window width with -l
84 - further revised and clarified man page
85 - added -q, -K, -L options
[97]861.0b2 - 11 February 2003
87 - display ? characters for unprintable creator code characters
88 (e.g. java)
89 - fixed -P/-p error in man page
90 - revised and clarified man page
[91]911.0b1 - 10 February 2003
92 - added -S, -S, -h, -H, -k, -P, -l, -F options
93 - fixed reference to bogus -u option
94 - fixed bug where unknown match type was silently discarded
95 - added man page and this README
961.0d1 - 4 February 2003
97 - initial release
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