how to open and move an app silently through 'exec-and-forget'

[he-linyun]

Hi all,

I have a probably fundamental question on writing key-bindings using 'exec-and-forget'. My goal is to define a key-binding that first opens up several apps and then switches my focus to a specific workspace. This is my function (in service mode)

w = [
        'exec-and-forget open -g -a Calendar',
        'exec-and-forget open -g -a Reminders',
        'exec-and-forget open -g -a "Microsoft Outlook"',
        'exec-and-forget open -g -a Obsidian',
        'exec-and-forget open -g -a "Visual Studio Code"',
        'exec-and-forget open -g -a Zotero',
        'workspace Calendar',
        'mode main'        
    ]

As you can see from the script, I intend to focus on my "Calendar" workspace. However, every time I use the key-binding, I ended up looking at my Obsidian app (which lives in an "Obsidian" workspace).

I searched up a little bit and ChatGPT tells me that this is because I have another script

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'md.obsidian'
run = 'move-node-to-workspace Obsidian'

such that when aerospace creates and moves the Obsidian app to its desired workspace, the system will adjust the focus. But I am confused that, when I run open -g -a Obsidian in a terminal, obsidian can be invoked and sent silently to its desired workspace--while I am still focusing on the terminal (NOT in the Obsidian workspace).

Could anybody explains why we have these inconsistencies (at least to me)? And possibly workarounds? I also met another problem on 'exec-and-forget osascript -e 'quit app "Visual Studio Code"'' which would raise an error.

My whole config file is

# Start AeroSpace at login
start-at-login = true

# run after login to macOS user session.
# 'start-at-login' needs to be 'true' for 'after-login-command' to work
after-login-command = []

# run after AeroSpace startup.
# 'after-startup-command' runs after 'after-login-command'
after-startup-command = []

# Normalizations. See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#normalization
enable-normalization-flatten-containers = true
enable-normalization-opposite-orientation-for-nested-containers = true

# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#layouts
# The 'accordion-padding' specifies the size of accordion padding
# You can set 0 to disable the padding feature
accordion-padding = 30

# Possible values: tiles|accordion
default-root-container-layout = 'tiles'

# Possible values: horizontal|vertical|auto
# 'auto' means: wide monitor (anything wider than high) gets horizontal orientation,
#               tall monitor (anything higher than wide) gets vertical orientation
default-root-container-orientation = 'auto'

# Mouse follows focus when focused monitor changes
# See https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#on-focus-changed-callbacks
# See https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#move-mouse
on-focused-monitor-changed = ['move-mouse monitor-lazy-center']
# on-focus-changed = ['move-mouse window-lazy-center']

# You can effectively turn off macOS "Hide application" (cmd-h) feature by toggling this flag
# Useful if you don't use this macOS feature, but accidentally hit cmd-h or cmd-alt-h key
# Also see: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/goodies#disable-hide-app
automatically-unhide-macos-hidden-apps = false

# Possible values: (qwerty|dvorak|colemak)
# See https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#key-mapping
[key-mapping]
    preset = 'qwerty'

# Gaps between windows (inner-*) and between monitor edges (outer-*).
# Possible values:
# - Constant:     gaps.outer.top = 8
# - Per monitor:  gaps.outer.top = [{ monitor.main = 16 }, { monitor."some-pattern" = 32 }, 24]
#                 In this example, 24 is a default value when there is no match.
#                 Monitor pattern is the same as for 'workspace-to-monitor-force-assignment'.
#                 See:
#                 https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#assign-workspaces-to-monitors
[gaps]
    inner.horizontal = 0
    inner.vertical =   0
    outer.left =       0
    outer.bottom =     0
    outer.top =        0
    outer.right =      0

# 'main' binding mode declaration, must be always presented
# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#binding-modes
[mode.main.binding]

    # All possible keys:
    # - Letters.        a, b, c, ..., z
    # - Numbers.        0, 1, 2, ..., 9
    # - Keypad numbers. keypad0, keypad1, keypad2, ..., keypad9
    # - F-keys.         f1, f2, ..., f20
    # - Special keys.   minus, equal, period, comma, slash, backslash, quote, semicolon,
    #                   backtick, leftSquareBracket, rightSquareBracket, space, enter, esc,
    #                   backspace, tab, pageUp, pageDown, home, end, forwardDelete,
    #                   sectionSign (ISO keyboards only, european keyboards only)
    # - Keypad special. keypadClear, keypadDecimalMark, keypadDivide, keypadEnter, keypadEqual,
    #                   keypadMinus, keypadMultiply, keypadPlus
    # - Arrows.         left, down, up, right

    # All possible modifiers: cmd, alt, ctrl, shift

    # All possible commands: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands

    # See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#layout
    alt-slash = 'layout tiles horizontal vertical'
    alt-comma = 'layout accordion horizontal vertical'

    # See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#focus
    alt-h = 'focus left'
    alt-j = 'focus down'
    alt-k = 'focus up'
    alt-l = 'focus right'
    alt-left = 'focus-monitor left'
    alt-down = 'focus-monitor down'
    alt-up = 'focus-monitor up'
    alt-right = 'focus-monitor right'

    # See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#move
    alt-shift-h = 'move left'
    alt-shift-j = 'move down'
    alt-shift-k = 'move up'
    alt-shift-l = 'move right'
    alt-shift-left = "move-workspace-to-monitor left"
    alt-shift-down = "move-workspace-to-monitor down"
    alt-shift-up = "move-workspace-to-monitor up"
    alt-shift-right = "move-workspace-to-monitor right"

    # See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#resize
    alt-minus = 'resize smart -50'
    alt-equal = 'resize smart +50'

    # workspaces
    alt-1 = 'workspace 1'
    alt-shift-1 = 'move-node-to-workspace 1'

    alt-2 = 'workspace 2'
    alt-shift-2 = 'move-node-to-workspace 2'

    alt-3 = 'workspace 3'
    alt-shift-3 = 'move-node-to-workspace 3'

    alt-4 = 'workspace 4'
    alt-shift-4 = 'move-node-to-workspace 4'

    alt-5 = 'workspace 5'
    alt-shift-5 = 'move-node-to-workspace 5'

    alt-6 = 'workspace 6'
    alt-shift-6 = 'move-node-to-workspace 6'

    alt-7 = 'workspace 7'
    alt-shift-7 = 'move-node-to-workspace 7'

    alt-8 = 'workspace 8'
    alt-shift-8 = 'move-node-to-workspace 8'

    alt-9 = 'workspace 9'
    alt-shift-9 = 'move-node-to-workspace 9'

    alt-a = 'workspace A'
    alt-shift-a = 'move-node-to-workspace A'

    alt-b = 'workspace B'
    alt-shift-b = 'move-node-to-workspace B'

    alt-c = 'workspace Calendar'
    alt-shift-c = 'move-node-to-workspace Calendar'

    alt-d = 'workspace D'
    alt-shift-d = 'move-node-to-workspace D'

    alt-e = 'workspace Email'
    alt-shift-e = 'move-node-to-workspace Email'

    alt-f = 'workspace F'
    alt-shift-f = 'move-node-to-workspace F'

    alt-g = 'workspace Git'
    alt-shift-g = 'move-node-to-workspace Git'

    alt-i = 'workspace I'
    alt-shift-i = 'move-node-to-workspace I'

    alt-m = 'workspace M'
    alt-shift-m = 'move-node-to-workspace M'

    alt-n = 'workspace N'
    alt-shift-n = 'move-node-to-workspace N'

    alt-o = 'workspace Obsidian'
    alt-shift-o = 'move-node-to-workspace Obsidian'

    alt-p = 'workspace P'
    alt-shift-p = 'move-node-to-workspace P'

    alt-q = 'workspace Q'
    alt-shift-q = 'move-node-to-workspace Q'

    alt-r = 'workspace R'
    alt-shift-r = 'move-node-to-workspace R'

    alt-s = 'workspace S'
    alt-shift-s = 'move-node-to-workspace S'

    alt-t = 'workspace Temporary'
    alt-shift-t = 'move-node-to-workspace Temporary'

    alt-u = 'workspace U'
    alt-shift-u = 'move-node-to-workspace U'

    alt-v = 'workspace VS_Code'
    alt-shift-v = 'move-node-to-workspace VS_Code'

    alt-w = 'workspace W'
    alt-shift-w = 'move-node-to-workspace W'

    alt-x = 'workspace X'
    alt-shift-x = 'move-node-to-workspace X'

    alt-y = 'workspace Y'
    alt-shift-y = 'move-node-to-workspace Y'

    alt-z = 'workspace Zotero'
    alt-shift-z = 'move-node-to-workspace Zotero'

    # See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#workspace-back-and-forth
    alt-tab = 'workspace-back-and-forth'
    # See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#move-workspace-to-monitor
    alt-shift-tab = 'move-workspace-to-monitor --wrap-around next'

    # See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#exec-and-forget
    # You can uncomment the following lines to open up terminal with alt + enter shortcut
    # (like in i3)
    # alt-enter = '''exec-and-forget osascript -e '
    # tell application "Terminal"
    #     do script
    #     activate
    # end tell'
    # '''

    # See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#mode
    alt-shift-semicolon = 'mode service'

# 'service' binding mode declaration.
# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#binding-modes
[mode.service.binding]
    esc = ['reload-config', 'mode main']
    r = ['flatten-workspace-tree', 'mode main'] # reset layout
    f = ['layout floating tiling', 'mode main'] # Toggle between floating and tiling layout
    backspace = ['close-all-windows-but-current', 'mode main']
    w = [
        'exec-and-forget open -g -a Calendar',
        'exec-and-forget open -g -a Reminders',
        'exec-and-forget open -g -a "Microsoft Outlook"',
        'exec-and-forget open -g -a Obsidian',
        'exec-and-forget open -g -a "Visual Studio Code"',
        'exec-and-forget open -g -a Zotero',
        'workspace Calendar',
        'mode main'        
    ]
    q = [
        'exec-and-forget killall Calendar',
        'exec-and-forget killall Reminders',
        'exec-and-forget killall "Microsoft Outlook"',
        'exec-and-forget killall Obsidian',#'exec-and-forget osascript -e \\'quit app "Visual Studio Code"\\'',
        'exec-and-forget killall zotero',
        'mode main'
    ]

    # sticky is not yet supported https://github.com/nikitabobko/AeroSpace/issues/2
    #s = ['layout sticky tiling', 'mode main']

    alt-shift-h = ['join-with left', 'mode main']
    alt-shift-j = ['join-with down', 'mode main']
    alt-shift-k = ['join-with up', 'mode main']
    alt-shift-l = ['join-with right', 'mode main']

    down = 'volume down'
    up = 'volume up'
    shift-down = ['volume set 0', 'mode main']


# Apple default apps 
[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'com.apple.ActivityMonitor'
run = 'layout floating'

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'com.apple.iCal'
run = 'move-node-to-workspace Calendar'

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'com.apple.calculator'
run = 'layout floating'

# [[on-window-detected]]  # not necessary as this is by default
# if.app-id = 'com.apple.FaceTime'
# run = 'layout floating'

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'com.apple.finder'
run = 'layout floating'

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'com.apple.findmy'
run = 'layout floating'

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'com.apple.MobileSMS'
run = 'layout floating'

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'com.apple.reminders'
run = 'move-node-to-workspace Calendar'

# [[on-window-detected]] # not necessary as this is by default
# if.app-id = 'com.apple.ScreenContinuity' 
# run = 'layout floating'

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'com.github.GitHubClient'
run = 'move-node-to-workspace Git'

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'com.apple.systempreferences'
run = 'layout floating'

# third-party apps
[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'md.obsidian'
run = 'move-node-to-workspace Obsidian'

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'com.microsoft.Outlook'
run = 'move-node-to-workspace Email'

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'com.microsoft.VSCode'
run = 'move-node-to-workspace VS_Code'

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'org.zotero.zotero'
run = 'move-node-to-workspace Zotero'

[DarthImriel]

I have something similar set up to open various apps, and then move them around to different spaces, resize them, etc with a keybind. I had a lot of issues getting it working the way I wanted doing it in the config itself. What I ended up doing was writing a separate script that uses the aerospace CLI commands to move everything around, and targets the items by Window ID (rather than what's focused). This method allows much more granular control, along with adding pauses (sleeps) to give the apps time to launch before you try moving them (as newly launched apps tend to grab focus).

I have that script living in my Aerospace config folder, set to being executable, and then I have the bind in my Aerospace config file just doing an exec-and-forget pointing to that script.