How do I run AppleScript Safely inside my Swift app?

Question

Hey there!

I have a Swift app using SwiftUI, and I want to run some AppleScript Safely inside it.

Here is my current code:

func example() {
        var script = NSAppleScript(source: """
        tell application "Music"
            play
            repeat with vlm from 0 to 100 by 1
                set the sound volume to vlm
                delay \(fadetime / 100)
            end repeat
        end tell
        """)
        DispatchQueue.global(qos: .background).async {
            let success = script?.compileAndReturnError(nil)
            assert(success != nil)
            print(success)
        }
    }

However, it does not do anything. I have tried using process, however, that simply errors out in -600 "The application is not running." Is there something I am missing here?

Thank you!

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Posted by

blockarchitech

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Answer 1

Your code calls compileAndReturnError(_:), which only compiles the script. If you want it to run, call executeAndReturnError(_:).

Remember that AppleScript is based on Apple events, so you’ll need permission to send Apple events, meaning:

You have to sign your app with tha com.apple.security.automation.apple-events entitlement, assuming you have the hardened runtime enabled (which you should).
You have to add an NSAppleEventsUsageDescription property to your Info.plist.
You’ll need user approval to automate Music.

Finally, don’t use the Dispatch global concurrent queue. See Avoid Dispatch Global Concurrent Queues.

Oh, one last thing. executeAndReturnError(_:) is incorrectly annotated in Objective-C, so Swift things the result is not optional. To get around this, immediately cast the result to an optional. See this post for an example.

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

Posted by

eskimo

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Answer 2

Your code calls compileAndReturnError(_:), which only compiles the script. If you want it to run, call executeAndReturnError(_:).

Remember that AppleScript is based on Apple events, so you’ll need permission to send Apple events, meaning:

You have to sign your app with tha com.apple.security.automation.apple-events entitlement, assuming you have the hardened runtime enabled (which you should).
You have to add an NSAppleEventsUsageDescription property to your Info.plist.
You’ll need user approval to automate Music.

Finally, don’t use the Dispatch global concurrent queue. See Avoid Dispatch Global Concurrent Queues.

Oh, one last thing. executeAndReturnError(_:) is incorrectly annotated in Objective-C, so Swift things the result is not optional. To get around this, immediately cast the result to an optional. See this post for an example.

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

Posted by

eskimo

Add a Comment

How do I run AppleScript Safely inside my Swift app?

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