source: trunk/appswitch/appswitch/README@ 614

Last change on this file since 614 was 592, checked in by Nicholas Riley, 15 years ago

Use Cocoa instead of CPS to show all/hide other applications.

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1appswitch 1.1.1d1 [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 can 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 appswitch /usr/local/bin
34% sudo /usr/bin/install 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' should build under
46Xcode 2.4 or later.
47
48USAGE
49-----
50
51Just type 'appswitch' by itself to receive usage information. See the
52manual page (man appswitch) for more information.
53
54If you're curious about the speed difference between appswitch and
55other methods, this should give you some indication.
56
57appswitch -a Emacs 0.01s user 0.01s system 28% cpu 0.069 total
58launch -a Emacs 0.01s user 0.01s system 35% cpu 0.076 total
59open -a Emacs 0.04s user 0.02s system 52% cpu 0.115 total
60osascript -e 'tell application "Emacs" to activate'
61 0.13s user 0.06s system 59% cpu 0.326 total
62
63The above tests were performed on a Mac mini Core Duo 1.66 GHz; slower
64systems show more dramatic differences.
65
66COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, BUG REPORTS, ETC.
67----------------------------------------
68
69Please send to the author, Nicholas Riley, at <appswitch@sabi.net>.
70
71VERSION HISTORY
72---------------
73
741.1.1 - unreleased
75 - use Cocoa instead of CPS to show all/hide other applications
76 (r. 4808397)
771.1 - 6 November 2007
78 - switched to Process Manager instead of CPS where possible - slower
79 but more compatible (r. 4808397, 4808400)
80 - fixed description of -k option: SIGTERM, not SIGINT
81 - added -f option
82 - fixed incorrect output/behavior with Mac OS X 10.5
83 - Universal Binary, compatible with Intel Macs; built for OS X 10.4
84 or later
851.0.1 - 16 May 2004
86 - fixed crash matching applications with no bundle identifier
87 - fixed process listing PSN column width
881.0 - 19 February 2003
89 - added description of -q delay bug (no workaround)
901.0b3 - 13 February 2003
91 - display spaces instead of ? characters when unprintable
92 - properly handle very narrow window width with -l
93 - further revised and clarified man page
94 - added -q, -K, -L options
951.0b2 - 11 February 2003
96 - display ? characters for unprintable creator code characters
97 (e.g. java)
98 - fixed -P/-p error in man page
99 - revised and clarified man page
1001.0b1 - 10 February 2003
101 - added -S, -S, -h, -H, -k, -P, -l, -F options
102 - fixed reference to bogus -u option
103 - fixed bug where unknown match type was silently discarded
104 - added man page and this README
1051.0d1 - 4 February 2003
106 - initial release
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