AppleScript

• Get actual path of finder window if opened

#!/usr/bin/env bash

if ! osascript -s o <<EndOfScript
    tell application "Finder"
        try
            set c to (count of Finder windows)
        on error message number -1743
            error "Privacy settings prevent access to Finder"
        end try

        if c is 0 then
            return POSIX path of (desktop as alias)
        else
            return POSIX path of ((target of Finder window 1) as alias)
        end if
    end tell
EndOfScript
then
    echo "osascript failed"
fi

• Display an hello world window

osascript -e 'tell application "Finder"
    activate
    display dialog "Hello, World!"
end tell'

• Display an hello world window but without sending events to another process

osascript <<EndOfScript
    display dialog "Hello, World!"
EndOfScript

The useful commands in the Standard Additions extension include:

• user interaction: choose file/folder/from list, display dialog/alert/notification
• file commands: mount volume
• clipboard commands: get the clipboard, set the clipboard to
• sound control: set volume, get volume settings
• system info

When your script uses only these commands, make sure they are not contained in tell blocks. This will avoid unnecessary prompts for access approval.

Some AppleScript commands are treated differently and will not trigger privacy approval:

• activate: launch application and/or bring to front
• open: open a file
• open location: open a URL
• quit: quit the application

osascript <<EndOfScript
    tell application "Firefox"
        open location "https://scriptingosx.com"
    end
EndOfScript