Swift shell command returns empty result

Question

I have installed chrome-cli in my Mac. I'm trying to execute chrome-cli commands from Swift with following code:

    import Foundation

func shell(_ command: String) -> String {
    let task = Process()
    let pipe = Pipe()

    task.standardOutput = pipe
    task.arguments = ["-c", command]
    task.launchPath = "/bin/bash"
    task.launch()

    let data = pipe.fileHandleForReading.readDataToEndOfFile()
    let output = String(data: data, encoding: .utf8)!

    return output
}

// Example 1: 
let example1 = shell("/usr/local/bin/chrome-cli --help") //returns expected result
let example2 = shell("/usr/local/bin/chrome-cli list tabs") // return ""

Here, example 1 is calling with single argument and works well, i.e it print same result like we execute the command in Terminal.

but for example 2, we have more than 1 argument and it always returns empty result. While the same command on Terminal print list of tab currently opened.

I think the process doesn't wait for command to return the result as it takes 1-2 seconds to list tabs in Terminal app. or its some other issue?

Please help. Thanks.

It could be indeed an async issue : stackoverflow.com/questions/28590701/… Else, check the task.errorOutput, check if it's not in the error one (do the same as the standard one for the error. — Larme
– Larme, Commented Nov 13, 2020 at 16:46
errorOutput property doesn't exist for Process. I only see task.standardError and attached a pipe to it which also returns empty result. — Zahid Usman Cheema
– Zahid Usman Cheema, Commented Nov 14, 2020 at 7:10
That’s what I meant, sorry. I didn’t check the doc. Loin for the async management. — Larme
– Larme, Commented Nov 14, 2020 at 11:02

iUrii · Accepted Answer · 2020-11-18 13:26:18Z

1

+50

Since chrome-cli 1.6.0 was released in 2018 but new Chrome versions with new features appear regularly I suggest to use Chrome directly via SBApplication to access to any needed info e.g.:

import ScriptingBridge

@objc protocol ChromeTab {
    @objc optional var id: Int {get}
    @objc optional var title: String {get}
}
extension SBObject: ChromeTab {}

@objc protocol ChromeWindow {
    @objc optional var tabs: [ChromeTab] {get}
}
extension SBObject: ChromeWindow {}

@objc protocol ChromeApplication {
    @objc optional var windows: [ChromeWindow] {get}
}
extension SBApplication : ChromeApplication {}

// Print all tabs
if let chrome = SBApplication(bundleIdentifier: "com.google.Chrome") as ChromeApplication? {
    if let window = chrome.windows?.first {
        window.tabs?.forEach {
            if let id = $0.id, let title = $0.title {
                print("[\(id)] -", title)
            }
        }
    }
}

For more info about Chrome Extensions look at https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/devguide

edited Nov 18, 2020 at 13:26

answered Nov 18, 2020 at 12:04

iUrii

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7 Comments

Zahid Usman Cheema Over a year ago

That seems cool alternative but I chrome.windows return 0 element while I have 2 windows open. Do I need some permission? Moreover, I also need to bring a selected tab to front from swift. If you can help about that, it would be awesome. I'm also checking referenced documentation and seems very helpful.

iUrii Over a year ago

@ZahidUsmanCheema On macos Catalina the system asks to grant access from my app to Chrome and this settings are in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Automation and after I have access to all data. Maybe it's permission with your user account because both scripts yours and my work OK.

iUrii Over a year ago

@ZahidUsmanCheema try to add NSAppleEventsUsageDescription in your Info.plist (stackoverflow.com/questions/61445371/…`)

Zahid Usman Cheema Over a year ago

I did. Still no. Should I try with Sandbox mode on or off?

Zahid Usman Cheema Over a year ago

This worked: "After adding NSAppleEventsUsageDescription to info.plist and enabling events in hardended runtime it works now. Thank you."

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