AppleScript syntax error in smart-notify.sh when messages contain special characters

[zackkatz]

Problem

The smart-notify.sh script fails with AppleScript syntax error when variables contain special characters (quotes, parentheses, etc.):

Stop hook error: Failed with non-blocking status code: 30:37: syntax error: A identifier can't go after this """. (-2740)

Root Cause

Line 54 uses improper quote escaping when passing variables to osascript:

osascript -e "display notification \"$MSG\" with title \"Claude Code ($SESSION_DIR) - $TITLE\" sound name \"$SOUND\""

When $MSG, $SESSION_DIR, or $TITLE contain quotes, parentheses, or other special characters, they break the AppleScript syntax.

Reproduction

1. Install Claude Code hooks with npx @verygoodplugins/mcp-automem claude-code
2. Trigger a Stop hook where the assistant message contains quotes or special characters
3. Observe the syntax error in hook output

Proposed Solution

Properly escape variables before passing to AppleScript:

• Use printf with sed to escape quotes and special characters
• Or use AppleScript's quoted form for proper escaping
• Or pass variables through heredoc

Impact

• Affects macOS users without terminal-notifier installed (fallback path)
• Stop hooks fail but don't block Claude Code operation (non-blocking error)
• Error appears in hook output logs

Environment

• macOS (affects osascript fallback path)
• Claude Code hooks installed via mcp-automem
• Users without terminal-notifier installed