How to Use the Command 'lsappinfo' (with Examples)

The lsappinfo command is a powerful tool available on macOS systems that allows control and querying of CoreApplicationServices about the state of applications running on your system. This can be particularly useful for developers, system administrators, or any tech-savvy user who desires an in-depth understanding of the behaviors and properties of applications on their Mac. It provides a simple command-line interface that can act as an eye into the inner workings of your graphical user environment.

Use case 1: List all running applications with their details

Code:

lsappinfo list

Motivation:

In many situations, you might want to have a comprehensive view of all running applications on your system. This could be for reasons such as performance monitoring, troubleshooting, or simply gaining a better understanding of the processes currently active on your device. The lsappinfo list command serves as a versatile tool to fetch detailed information about each application currently running, including their unique identifiers, names, states, and more.

Explanation:

• lsappinfo: This is the name of the command used to access application information services.
• list: This argument requests the command to enumerate all the running applications and display detailed information on each. It provides insights into the current state of all active applications, which is useful for a variety of diagnostic and monitoring tasks.

Example output:

Application Name: Calculator
  Bundle Identifier: com.apple.calculator
  Process ID: 1234
  State: Running
  Frontmost: False

Application Name: Safari
  Bundle Identifier: com.apple.Safari
  Process ID: 5678
  State: Running
  Frontmost: True

Use case 2: Show the front application

Code:

lsappinfo front

Motivation:

At any given moment, you might be working with multiple applications but only one is the “frontmost” or actively visible application. Knowing which application is frontmost can be crucial, especially in scripting and development where actions might depend on this information. The lsappinfo front command lets you quickly identify which application currently holds the center stage among the running apps.

Explanation:

• lsappinfo: This command, as previously mentioned, manages information concerning application states and properties.
• front: This argument specifically targets the identification of the frontmost application. It extracts and displays details about the app that is currently active and visible to the user, aiding in scenarios where automation or streamlined workflows are dependent on the frontmost status.

Example output:

Application Name: Safari
  Bundle Identifier: com.apple.Safari
  Process ID: 5678
  State: Running
  Frontmost: True

Use case 3: Show the information for a specific application

Code:

lsappinfo info com.apple.calculator

Motivation:

There may be times when you need to gather specific details about an individual application, such as its process ID, state, or other related information. This can be invaluable for debugging issues, verifying app states, or scripting purposes where only specific application data is necessary. The lsappinfo info command lets you pinpoint an application by its bundle identifier to fetch all pertinent information.

Explanation:

• lsappinfo: This is the main command that facilitates querying of application information services.
• info: The argument info denotes that the command should return detailed information concerning a specific application.
• com.apple.calculator: This is the bundle identifier for the Calculator app. Every macOS application has a unique bundle identifier, which in this argument is used to specify the application of interest, allowing you to obtain targeted information.

Example output:

Application Name: Calculator
  Bundle Identifier: com.apple.calculator
  Process ID: 1234
  State: Running
  Frontmost: False

Conclusion:

The lsappinfo command provides a robust set of utilities for gathering information about applications running on a macOS system. Whether you’re working to solve issues, optimize performance, write automation scripts, or simply satiate your curiosity about what’s happening behind the scenes on your device, understanding this command and its use cases can significantly enhance your toolkit.