Universal App Toggle Script for macOS

toggle-app.scpt

#!/usr/bin/osascript

# Toggle macOS App Window State
# 
# This script provides smart window toggling for any macOS application:
# - If app is not running → launches and activates it
# - If app is minimized → restores and brings to front
# - If app is in background → brings to front
# - If app is in foreground → minimizes to dock
#
# Usage:
# 1. Change 'appName' to your target application
# 2. Save as .scpt or .applescript file
# 3. Run via Terminal: osascript toggle-app.scpt
# 4. Or integrate with Raycast, Alfred, Keyboard Maestro, etc.
#
# Requirements:
# - macOS with AppleScript support
# - Accessibility permissions for Script Editor/Terminal
#   (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility)
#
# Author: An Van (@anvanvan)
# License: MIT

# Configuration - Change this to your target app
set appName to "Claude" -- Examples: "Safari", "Slack", "Terminal", "Code"

# Check if the application process is currently running
tell application "System Events"
	set appRunning to (name of processes) contains appName
end tell

if not appRunning then
	# App not running → Launch and bring to foreground
	activate application appName
else
	# App is running → Determine current state and toggle accordingly
	tell application "System Events"
		tell process appName
			# Get current window state
			set isFrontmost to frontmost
			set windowCount to count of windows
			
			if windowCount > 0 then
				# App has windows → Check if minimized
				set isMinimized to value of attribute "AXMinimized" of window 1
				
				if isFrontmost and not isMinimized then
					# App is in foreground and visible → Minimize to dock
					# This is the "hide" action when user wants to get app out of the way
					set value of attribute "AXMinimized" of window 1 to true
				else
					# App is either in background or minimized → Restore and activate
					# First, make the process frontmost
					set frontmost to true
					
					# If minimized, restore the window
					if isMinimized then
						set value of attribute "AXMinimized" of window 1 to false
					end if
					
					# Ensure window is raised to top of window stack
					# This handles edge cases where window might be behind others
					perform action "AXRaise" of window 1
				end if
			else
				# App is running but has no windows (rare case)
				# Some apps can run without windows (menu bar apps, background processes)
				# Attempt to make it frontmost which should create/show a window
				set frontmost to true
			end if
		end tell
	end tell
	
	# Failsafe: If app still isn't frontmost after our attempts, force activate
	# This handles stubborn apps that don't respond to standard window management
	tell application "System Events"
		if not (frontmost of process appName) then
			activate application appName
		end if
	end tell
end if

# Note: Some apps may behave differently:
# - Electron apps might need additional handling
# - Menu bar only apps won't minimize properly
# - Multi-window apps will only toggle the first window
# 
# For multi-window support, modify the minimize section to:
# repeat with w in windows
#     set value of attribute "AXMinimized" of w to true
# end repeat