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macOS Shortcuts Bridge

Build macOS Shortcuts once, then call them from the command line for Apple-only actions like HomeKit.

Source Download skill
Repository
danielmiessler/LifeOS
Stars
19,682
Licence
MIT
Files
6 files

What it does

This skill lets an AI agent reach features on a Mac that have no normal API, such as controlling HomeKit devices or native system actions. The agent uses the macOS Shortcuts app: a shortcut is built once through on-screen computer use, then the agent calls it through a small TypeScript wrapper around the macOS shortcuts command line. After that, runs are fast and repeatable instead of clicking through the screen each time. The agent can also list shortcuts and check whether a named one exists.

Great for

  • Mac users who want an agent to control HomeKit or other Apple-only functions from the terminal
  • Developers building LifeOS-style automations that depend on a specific named Shortcut
  • People who already use Shortcuts.app and want to expose existing shortcuts to scripts

Skip it if

  • Web automation, which the skill itself says belongs to a different skill (Interceptor), since it drives browsers rather than Apple features
  • Non-macOS systems, because the shortcuts command exists only on macOS and the script exits with an error elsewhere
  • Actions a shell script or device API can already do, since the skill's own guidance routes those elsewhere; wrapping a shortcut adds an extra layer that can run real device actions with the permissions it was granted

Try asking

  • “Build a shortcut that reads my thermostat zones and then run it from the command line”
  • “List my macOS shortcuts and tell me whether one named Set Zone 1 Temp exists”
  • “Run my Good Night shortcut with the input 21 and show me the output”
Step-by-step guide: how to use macOS Shortcuts BridgeInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 6 original files, the MIT licence and an attribution note.

    Shortcuts.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip Shortcuts.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip Shortcuts.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Register shortcut names exactly as consumers will call them, since matching is case- and space-sensitive; run the exists check after building.
  • Review each shortcut's actions in Shortcuts.app before running it, because runs can perform real native actions such as changing device settings.
  • Make sure each shortcut ends with an output action, otherwise the CLI returns empty stdout.

What's inside

  • Intents/BuildShortcut.md
  • Intents/ListShortcuts.md
  • Intents/RunShortcut.md
  • Setup.md
  • SKILL.md
  • Tools/Shortcuts.ts

Redistributed unmodified from danielmiessler/LifeOS under the MIT licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-10-29. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.