Save Safari Tabs

Automatically save all your open Safari tabs to a markdown file before an exam, hackathon, or study session.

Problem

You've got 30+ Safari tabs open as references, but exam invigilators or hackathon rules require a clean machine. You need to close everything but can't lose your resources.

Solution

Run one command. All tabs saved to a markdown file. Safari cleared. Resume later.

Perfect for:

• Exam prep — Save your last-minute YouTube tutorials and notes, then close Safari completely
• Hackathons — Clean browser, but all your reference links saved for during the event
• Study sessions — Stop browser clutter mid-study without losing context

Installation

1. Clone this repo:

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/SaveSafariTabs.git
cd SaveSafariTabs

2. Make the script executable:

chmod +x saveSafariTabs.sh
chmod +x saveFirefoxTabs.sh

3. (Optional) Add alias to your shell config for quick access:

echo "alias savetabs='~/path/to/saveSafariTabs.sh'" >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Usage

Run the script:

./saveSafariTabs.sh
./saveFirefoxTabs.sh

Or if you added the alias:

savetabs

A markdown file (safari-tabs.md) appears on your Desktop with all open tabs as clickable links.

Options

Bash Script (Recommended)

File: saveSafariTabs.sh

• Modern, reliable
• Works on macOS Monterey+
• Better error handling
• Output: Clean markdown format

AppleScript (Legacy)

File: SaveSafariTabs.scpt

• Older approach
• Still works, but less flexible
• Use this only if bash script has issues

Example Output

# Safari Tabs - Thursday, 3 July 2026 at 15:45

Saved tabs to resume later

- [UNI_CLASS  Course Materials](https://example.com)
- [Networking Tutorial - YouTube](https://youtube.com/...)
- [RFC 3986 - URI Spec](https://tools.ietf.org/...)

Notes

• Requires macOS (uses AppleScript + Bash)
• Safari must have permission in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Automation (Automatically done if you are the admin)
• Creates/overwrites safari-tabs.md on your Desktop each time you run it (point it where you want the file put, obsidian vault/drive/dropbox etc.)

Use Cases

I built this for:

• Exams — Study right up until the invigilator says go, then save + close
• Hackathons — Keep your workspace clean without losing reference materials
• Study sessions — Stay organised without browser tab chaos

License