source: trunk/appswitch/appswitch/README@ 306

Last change on this file since 306 was 306, checked in by Nicholas Riley, 18 years ago

VERSION: Updated for 1.1d1.

main.c: Mostly switch to Process Manager. Remove obsolete comments.

README: Updated for 1.1d1.

appswitch.xcodeproj: Upgraded Xcode project.

File size: 3.5 KB
Line 
1appswitch 1.1d1 [unreleased]
2===============
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 # if necessary
36
37Uninstallation:
38
39% sudo rm -f /usr/local/bin/appswitch /usr/local/man/man1/appswitch.1
40
41COMPILATION
42-----------
43
44An Xcode project, 'appswitch.xcodeproj', is included. A precompiled
45Universal binary is also provided. 'appswitch' was developed and
46tested under Mac OS 10.4.8 with Xcode 2.4, and does not require any
47additional software to build.
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
58appswitch -a Emacs 0.01s user 0.01s system 28% cpu 0.069 total
59launch -a Emacs 0.01s user 0.01s system 35% cpu 0.076 total
60open -a Emacs 0.04s user 0.02s system 52% cpu 0.115 total
61osascript -e 'tell application "Emacs" to activate'
62 0.13s user 0.06s system 59% cpu 0.326 total
63
64The above tests were performed on a Mac mini Core Duo 1.66 GHz; slower
65systems show more dramatic differences.
66
67COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, BUG REPORTS, ETC.
68----------------------------------------
69
70Please send to the author, Nicholas Riley, at <appswitch@sabi.net>.
71
72VERSION HISTORY
73---------------
74
751.1 - unreleased
76 - switched to Process Manager instead of CPS (slower but more
77 compatible)
78 - fixed description of -k option: SIGTERM, not SIGINT
79 - added -f option
80 - Universal Binary, compatible with Intel Macs
811.0.1 - 16 May 2004
82 - fixed crash matching applications with no bundle identifier
83 - fixed process listing PSN column width
841.0 - 19 February 2003
85 - added description of -q delay bug (no workaround)
861.0b3 - 13 February 2003
87 - display spaces instead of ? characters when unprintable
88 - properly handle very narrow window width with -l
89 - further revised and clarified man page
90 - added -q, -K, -L options
911.0b2 - 11 February 2003
92 - display ? characters for unprintable creator code characters
93 (e.g. java)
94 - fixed -P/-p error in man page
95 - revised and clarified man page
961.0b1 - 10 February 2003
97 - added -S, -S, -h, -H, -k, -P, -l, -F options
98 - fixed reference to bogus -u option
99 - fixed bug where unknown match type was silently discarded
100 - added man page and this README
1011.0d1 - 4 February 2003
102 - initial release
Note: See TracBrowser for help on using the repository browser.