execute an app through terminal

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Level 3

505 points

execute an app through terminal

I'm having trouble finding out how I run an app through the terminal?
My friend runs Linux and I'm sure he just types out the name and it executes, even if it's an app he runs in the graphic interface.

if i type the name of a .app file, it says it's a Directory. I'm familiar with the structure of these .app "programs" and how they are "packages" and so on, but in the terminal I basically want to run an OS X app as if I just double clicked the icon.

Posted on Oct 9, 2005 3:54 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 9, 2005 4:14 PM in response to brad f

try:

open -a /path/to/app

Andy

man open

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Answer 2

brad f Author

Level 3

505 points

Oct 9, 2005 4:32 PM in response to Andy Highberger

Thanks!

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Answer 3

reese_

Level 4

1,735 points

Oct 9, 2005 7:13 PM in response to brad f

Typing in the name works on linux (and Unix systems) when X is running or when it's a command line app. These two cases also work on the Mac. The 'open' command is a link from the Unix shell to the Apple GUI.

Reese

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Answer 4

Oct 9, 2005 7:53 PM in response to brad f

Hi Brad,
Aside from what has already been reported, Cocoa apps also run if you execute the path to the real app. By this I mean the executable inside the app bundle. For instance to start up the Chess application, you can execute:

/Applications/Chess.app/Contents/MacOS/Chess

Thus for Cocoa apps, all the open command has to do is to translate the path from the app bundle to the executable inside.
--
Gary
~~~~
Giving money and power to governments is like giving
whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
-- P.J. O'Rourke

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