Platypus
Platypus is a developer tool for the Mac OS X operating system. It can be used to create native, flawlessly integrated Mac OS X applications from interpreted scripts such as shell scripts or Perl and Python programs. This is done by wrapping the script in an application bundle directory structure along with an executable binary that runs the script.
Platypus thus makes it possible for you to share your scripts and programs with those unfamiliar with the command line interface, without any knowledge of the Mac OS X APIs -- a few clicks and you will have your own Mac OS X graphical program. Creating installers, maintenance applications, login items, launchers, automations and droplets is very easy using Platypus.
- Supports shell scripts, Perl, Python, PHP, Ruby, Expect, Tcl, AppleScript
- Supports arbitrary interpreter specification
- Executing scripts with root privileges via Apple's Security Framework
- Drag and drop files, which are passed to the script as arguments
- Graphical feedback of script execution: progress bar, text window with script output, WebKit HTML rendering
- Can create applications which run in the background
- Sophisticated app bundle configuration for associated file types, identifier, version etc.
- Graphical interface for bundling support files with script
- Built-in script editor, or linking with external editor of choice
- Set own application icon or select from presets
- Command line tool for automating script application bundling
- Application profiles
Platypus is free, open-source software and is distributed under the terms and conditions of the Free Software Foundation's GNU General Public License. Platypus is written in Objective C for the Cocoa application programming interfaces.
The latest version is Platypus 4.2. Platypus and Platypus-generated applications require Mac OS X 10.4 or later, and are Universal Binaries, compatible with both Intel x86 and PowerPC processors. For versions that run on previous incarnations of Mac OS X, press the "Old Versions" link below.
Downloads: Application | Source | Old Versions
Links
Documentation |
man page | Version Log
| Please keep in mind that continued Platypus development depends on your support. Click here to make a donation to support Platypus development. |
Development
For help with development, you can subscribe Platypus Developer Mailing List and send in your query, or maybe give the documentation a once-over again. If you like Platypus, you may also be interested in a similar application of mine, Tapir, which allows you to easily make global Mac OS X menu items based on shell commands and scripts.