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

View Tags

Source: http://www.sveinbjorn.org/platypus

Categories

Software Open Source Developer

MacResearch has posted a nice two part tutorial on using Platypus, a neat utility that allows you to "create native, flawlessly integrated...

Add a Comment

Sign in »

5 Comments

Filter by:

Geoffrey Hutchison

For future reference (Google is an amazing thing), the link to the command-line tutorial series is:

http://www.macresearch.org/command_line

May 09 2007 at 9:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Geoffrey Hutchison

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!

May 08 2007 at 5:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Tom

The alternative engine (also free) for building GUI for shell scripts/AppleScripts is OnMyCommand:
http://www.abracode.com/free/cmworkshop/

May 08 2007 at 4:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Just lurking

I noticed that too - is that really the logo he uses for this? Way to be an uncreative plagiarist, mate.

May 08 2007 at 1:38 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jeff Harrell

That's not cool, man. The icon for this program is Syd, one of the three mascot characters from the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

May 08 2007 at 12:08 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply