Scripting App Command-Line Tool

Welcome to the scripting-cli, the command-line tool designed for integrating with the Scripting app. This tool allows you to synchronize and preview your scripts in real-time as you develop them using your favorite desktop editor (VSCode, Cursor, Windsurf, Zed, WebStorm, Vim, and more).

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Prerequisites

Before using scripting-cli, ensure the following requirements are met:

1. Node.js: Make sure you have a recent version of Node.js installed. To check your current version, run:

   node -v

2. Scripting App: The Scripting app must be installed in order to connect with the local service started by scripting-cli.

Installation

There’s no need to install scripting-cli globally. Simply run it using npx:

npx scripting-cli <command>

Usage

1. Create a Working Directory

Start by creating a directory where your Scripting app scripts will reside. For example:

mkdir my-scripting-project
cd my-scripting-project

2. Start the Local Service

In your working directory, run the following command to start the local development service:

npx scripting-cli start

By default, this starts the service on port 3000. To specify a different port, use the --port option:

npx scripting-cli start --port=4000

To enable Bonjour support—allowing the Scripting app to automatically detect the local service—add the --bonjour flag:

npx scripting-cli start --bonjour

3. Connect the Scripting App

Once the service is running, open the Scripting app and connect to the local service you just started. This establishes a connection between the app and your working directory.

4. Debug and Synchronize Your Code

After connecting, select the script project you want to debug. The Scripting app will automatically sync the project’s code with your working directory.

5. Real-Time Code Synchronization

As you write and save scripts using your desktop editor (e.g., VSCode), the changes will automatically sync with the Scripting app and be executed in real-time—making development and debugging much smoother.

Editor Selection and Config File

scripting-cli is no longer tied to VSCode. The first time you run npx scripting-cli start, you'll be prompted to choose the editor you actually use. Your choice is saved to scripting.config.json in your project root so the prompt won't appear again.

Supported editors

VSCode, VSCode Insiders, VSCodium, Cursor, Windsurf, Trae, Zed, WebStorm, IntelliJ IDEA, Fleet, Sublime Text, Nova, Vim, Neovim, Emacs, plus custom (any other command) and none (disable auto-open).

Editors detected on your PATH are marked with ✓ and listed first.

Per-run override

# Use Cursor for this run only (does not modify scripting.config.json)
npx scripting-cli start --editor=cursor

# Re-run the interactive selection and overwrite the saved choice
npx scripting-cli start --reconfigure

Config file

scripting-cli looks for the first config file it finds in this order:

scripting.config.ts
scripting.config.mts
scripting.config.cts
scripting.config.js
scripting.config.mjs
scripting.config.cjs
scripting.config.json

The default file is JSON so the npx flow stays zero-install. TypeScript and JavaScript files are loaded via jiti.

// scripting.config.json
{
  "editor": "cursor",          // see supported editors above
  "editorCommand": "cursor",   // optional, overrides the default command
  "editorArgs": [],            // optional, extra CLI args
  "port": 3000,
  "autoOpen": true,
  "generateTsConfig": true,    // set to false if you manage tsconfig.json yourself
  "logLevel": "info"           // "silent" | "error" | "warn" | "info" | "debug"
}

CLI flags take precedence over the config file.

Type completion (TypeScript config)

To get autocomplete in scripting.config.ts, install scripting-cli as a dev dependency:

npm i -D scripting-cli

Then:

// scripting.config.ts
import { defineConfig } from 'scripting-cli'

export default defineConfig({
  editor: 'cursor',
  port: 4000,
})

You can also use .ts without installing the package — npx scripting-cli start still loads it via jiti. You just won't get IDE type hints.

Example Workflow

1. Start the local service:

   npx scripting-cli start

2. Open your editor and write your script.

3. Save the script file.

4. The updated code is automatically synchronized with the Scripting app and executed.

Additional Information

• The default port is 3000. If it’s already in use, specify a different one with the --port option.

• Use the --no-auto-open flag to prevent the tool from opening index.tsx or widget.tsx automatically:

  npx scripting-cli start --no-auto-open

• Use --editor=<key> to override the configured editor for a single run, or --reconfigure to re-run the interactive editor selection.

• To use the Bonjour service, ensure your system supports it. On Windows, you may need to install Bonjour manually. Then, use the --bonjour option to enable it.

• This tool works with any desktop editor and provides seamless code synchronization and debugging with the Scripting app.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:

• Ensure you're using Node.js version 20 or higher.
• Verify the Scripting app is properly connected to the local service.
• Make sure no other process is occupying your chosen port.
• Always run the tool using npx scripting-cli <command>, and check that the package is up to date.

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Enjoy using scripting-cli in your Scripting app development workflow. Happy coding!