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I want to open an app(.app) from a bash shell(.sh using #!/usr/bin/bash) which is located in a folder in /Applications. How do I open it?
If I can open it, can I close it? If yes, how?

2 Answers2

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Setting your shebang to #!/usr/bin/env bash (which is the preferred way as it's portable), consider the following examples:

Open app:

  • Utilize open command with the -a option. For instance:

    open -a "Safari"

  • Or, using osascript to execute an AppleScript. For instance: 

    osascript -e 'tell application "Safari" to activate'

    Or a terse equivalent:

    osascript -e 'activate app "Safari"'

Close app:

  • Utilize osascript to execute an AppleScript. For instance: 

    osascript -e 'tell application "Safari" to quit'

    Or a terse equivalent:

    osascript -e 'quit app "Safari"'

Note: If bash actually resides in /usr/bin/ on macOS as per your question the above examples will work successfully with the shebang: #!/usr/bin/bash

RobC
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    Is osascript better or open better? –  Mar 12 '19 at 09:34
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    Aaron, in terms of _"better"_ there's really little difference between the two given your requirement - both achieve the desired result on macOS. If I had to make a choice, I would probably choose to use `osascript -e 'activate app "Safari"'` and `osascript -e 'quit app "Safari"'`, simply because of the similarity of syntax for both opening and closing - and perhaps because of its marginal improved readability. That being said, `open` doesn't have to call _AppleScript_ which inevitably results in a _very minor_ performance gain (probably microseconds faster)... Toss a coin ;) – RobC Mar 12 '19 at 10:50
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of course you can do that, please use the terminal command "open".

#!/bin/bash 
echo This is a play music script

# play Music from command line in the background
open ~/Downloads/AlanWalker-Faded.m4a & 

# wait some seconds 
sleep 60 

# force quit iTunes 
killall iTunes
DL chyi
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  • Sorry, but this opens a music file, which just opens the default music app(iTunes in this case) –  Mar 12 '19 at 09:34