Filed under: Software, Open Source, Developer
Platypus: create Mac applications from Ruby, Perl, shell scripts, etc.
MacResearch has posted a nice two part tutorial on using Platypus, a neat utility that allows you to "create native, flawlessly integrated Mac OS X applications from interpreted scripts." This include shell scripts, Perl, Ruby, Python, etc. With Platypus you can turn command-line only tools into full fledged, free-standing Mac applications that support drag and drop and even basic graphical feedback. Obviously this isn't going to make for a full GUI application, but it will allow you easily to create self-contained OS X applications that you can double-click to run. Especially for those in the science fields, and even for beginning (Ruby) script programmers like myself, Platypus makes it possible to get basic (and even not so basic) Mac app up and running very quickly.Platypus is a free download from Sveinbjorn Thordarson, and donations are requested.
[Via MacResearch]
Update: fixed headline
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jeff Harrell said 12:08PM on 5-08-2007
That's not cool, man. The icon for this program is Syd, one of the three mascot characters from the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
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Bazza McKenzie said 1:38PM on 5-08-2007
I noticed that too - is that really the logo he uses for this? Way to be an uncreative plagiarist, mate.
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Tom said 4:30PM on 5-08-2007
The alternative engine (also free) for building GUI for shell scripts/AppleScripts is OnMyCommand:
http://www.abracode.com/free/cmworkshop/
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Geoffrey Hutchison said 5:11PM on 5-08-2007
Since I'm the author of the tutorials, I should mention I'll be continuing the series with a variety of other ways to add Mac apps for command-line programs and scripts.
Tom, thanks for the tip, I'll check that out!
In short, stay tuned to MacResearch.org if this interests you -- there's more to come!
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Geoffrey Hutchison said 9:08PM on 5-09-2007
For future reference (Google is an amazing thing), the link to the command-line tutorial series is:
http://www.macresearch.org/command_line
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