Platypus is a developer tool that creates native macOS applications from command line scripts.
The tool solves the problem of sharing scripts with non-technical users by wrapping command line programs in native application bundles. It supports a wide range of scripting languages including shell scripts, Python, Perl, Ruby, PHP, Swift, JavaScript, and others. The wrapped applications run through a slim native binary that executes the underlying script while presenting a polished macOS interface to the end user.
Platypus suits developers who need to distribute scripts as standalone applications without requiring users to interact with the command line. It works well for creating installers, droplets, administrative tools, login items, status menu applications, and automation utilities. The tool offers multiple interface options for script output, including progress bars, text windows, WebKit HTML rendering, and status menu items. Scripts can receive dragged-and-dropped files as arguments, execute with root privileges through the macOS Security Framework, register as URI scheme handlers, and send user notifications. The tool provides both a graphical interface for configuration and a command line interface for build process integration, with support for saving configurations as reusable profiles.
The project maintains active development with continuous refinement of its native Objective-C/Cocoa implementation. The tool generates applications that launch and run quickly with minimal overhead. Documentation is extensive, including built-in examples to help users get started, and a command line manual is available for reference.
