source: trunk/appswitch/appswitch/README@ 97

Last change on this file since 97 was 97, checked in by Nicholas Riley, 22 years ago

appswitch 1.0b2

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1appswitch 1.0b2 [11 February 2003]
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
36
37Uninstallation:
38
39% sudo rm -f /usr/local/bin/appswitch
40
41COMPILATION
42-----------
43
44A Project Builder project, 'appswitch.pbproj', is included. A
45precompiled binary is also provided. 'appswitch' was developed and
46tested under Mac OS 10.2.4 with the December 2002 Developer Tools,
47and does not require any additional 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 0.00s user 0.02s system 5% cpu 0.355 total
59appswitch -i com.gnu.Emacs 0.01s user 0.04s system 13% cpu 0.381 total
60open -a Emacs 0.30s user 0.15s system 53% cpu 0.842 total
61osascript -e 'tell application "Emacs" to activate'
62 0.66s user 0.42s system 45% cpu 2.361 total
63
64The above tests were performed on a PowerBook G4/800; slower systems
65should 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
751.0b2 - 11 February 2003
76 - display ? characters for unprintable creator code characters
77 (e.g. java)
78 - fixed -P/-p error in man page
79 - revised and clarified man page
801.0b1 - 10 February 2003
81 - added -S, -S, -h, -H, -k, -P, -l, -F options
82 - fixed reference to bogus -u option
83 - fixed bug where unknown match type was silently discarded
84 - added man page and this README
851.0d1 - 4 February 2003
86 - initial release
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