Need help building a graphical interface for a CLI app on macOS
I’m trying to figure out how to make a GUI application that works as a front-end for a command-line program on my Mac. I’d like the interface to let users input arguments that get passed to the underlying CLI tool.
Does anyone know of any good resources or tutorials for this kind of project? I’m open to using Xcode, but I’m also interested in other development options if they’re available.
I’m new to Mac development, so any advice on getting started would be really helpful. Has anyone here built something similar before? What approach did you take?
Thanks in advance for any tips or suggestions!
hey, have u tried using Electron? it’s pretty cool for making desktop apps with web tech. u can use JavaScript to run ur CLI tool and build a nice interface. might be easier than xcode if ur already into web stuff. just a thought!
Have u looked into using Platypus? It’s a free tool that lets u wrap command-line scripts in a native mac app pretty easily. Might be worth checking out for ur project. What kind of CLI tool are u trying to wrap? I’m curious about what ur building!
For creating a GUI wrapper for a CLI tool on macOS, I’d recommend looking into AppleScript or Automator. These are native macOS tools that can help you build simple interfaces without diving into complex programming.
AppleScript lets you create dialog boxes and basic UI elements, and it can easily execute shell commands. Automator is even more user-friendly, allowing you to create workflow applications with a drag-and-drop interface.
Both options integrate well with macOS and can run your CLI tool seamlessly. They’re great for quick solutions and don’t require extensive coding knowledge. I’ve used them for similar projects and found them quite effective for simple GUI needs.
If you need more advanced features, then Xcode with Swift might be the way to go, but for a straightforward wrapper, AppleScript or Automator could be perfect.