https://github.com/jackchuka/dutix
Set default apps, migrate file associations, and manage handlers on macOS
https://github.com/jackchuka/dutix
cli golang macos macosx
Last synced: 3 months ago
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Set default apps, migrate file associations, and manage handlers on macOS
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/jackchuka/dutix
- Owner: jackchuka
- License: mit
- Created: 2026-01-11T19:52:37.000Z (5 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-03-24T02:10:44.000Z (3 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-03-25T01:50:39.764Z (3 months ago)
- Topics: cli, golang, macos, macosx
- Language: Go
- Homepage:
- Size: 1.73 MB
- Stars: 14
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
# dutix
[](https://github.com/jackchuka/dutix/actions)
[](https://goreportcard.com/report/github.com/jackchuka/dutix)
**dutix** (Default UTI eXtension handler manager) is a command-line tool for managing default application handlers for file types, UTIs (Uniform Type Identifiers), and URL schemes on macOS.
## Features
- 🎯 Set default applications for file extensions, UTIs, and URL schemes
- 🔄 Migrate all file associations from one app to another
- 📋 List and inspect installed applications and their capabilities
- 🔍 Query current default handlers for any file type or URL scheme
- 🛡️ Safe operations with preview, confirmation, and dry-run modes
- 📊 Multiple output formats (table, JSON, YAML)
- 🚀 Fast native macOS integration
## Requirements
- macOS 12.0 (Monterey) or later
- Go 1.25 or later (for building from source)
## Installation
### Homebrew
```bash
brew install jackchuka/tap/dutix
```
### From Source
```bash
# Go install
go install github.com/jackchuka/dutix/cmd/dutix@latest
# Clone and build
git clone https://github.com/jackchuka/dutix.git
cd dutix
go build -o dutix ./cmd/dutix/
```
## Quick Start
```bash
# Set VS Code as default for text files
dutix set "Visual Studio Code" --extensions txt,md,json
# Check what handles .txt files
dutix targets show txt
# Migrate all file associations from one app to another
dutix apps migrate TextEdit "Visual Studio Code"
# List all installed applications
dutix apps list
```
## Usage
### Global Flags
Available on all commands:
| Flag | Short | Description |
| ---------- | ----- | ----------------------------------------- |
| `--debug` | — | Enable debug logging |
| `--quiet` | `-q` | Suppress non-essential output |
| `--output` | `-o` | Output format: `table`, `json`, or `yaml` |
### Commands
#### `dutix set [flags]`
Set default application for file extensions, UTIs, or URL schemes.
**Flags:**
- `--extensions` - Comma-separated file extensions (e.g., `txt,md,json`)
- `--utis` - Comma-separated UTI identifiers (e.g., `public.plain-text`)
- `--schemes` - Comma-separated URL schemes (e.g., `http,https`)
- `--dry-run` - Preview changes without applying
- `--yes` - Skip confirmation prompt
**Examples:**
```bash
# Set default for file extensions
dutix set "Visual Studio Code" --extensions txt,md,json
# Set default for URL schemes
dutix set Safari --schemes http,https
# Preview changes first
dutix set TextEdit --extensions txt --dry-run
# Skip confirmation
dutix set Finder --extensions zip,tar --yes
```
#### `dutix apps list [flags]`
List all installed applications.
**Flags:**
- `--filter` - Filter by name or path (case-insensitive)
**Examples:**
```bash
# List all applications
dutix apps list
# Find specific app
dutix apps list --filter "Visual"
# JSON output
dutix apps list --output json
```
#### `dutix apps show `
Show detailed information about an application including supported file types and UTIs.
**Examples:**
```bash
dutix apps show "Visual Studio Code"
dutix apps show Safari --output json
```
#### `dutix apps migrate [flags]`
Migrate all file type associations from one application to another.
**Flags:**
- `--dry-run` - Preview migration without applying changes
- `--yes` - Skip confirmation prompt
**Examples:**
```bash
# Preview migration
dutix apps migrate TextEdit "Visual Studio Code" --dry-run
# Migrate with confirmation
dutix apps migrate TextEdit "Visual Studio Code"
# Auto-migrate without prompts
dutix apps migrate "Old App" "New App" --yes
```
#### `dutix targets show `
Show current default handler for a file extension, UTI, or URL scheme.
The command automatically detects the target type:
- Extensions: `txt`, `json`, `pdf`
- UTIs: `public.plain-text`, `public.json`
- Schemes: `http`, `https`, `mailto`
**Examples:**
```bash
# Check file extension
dutix targets show txt
# Check UTI
dutix targets show public.plain-text
# Check URL scheme
dutix targets show http
```
#### `dutix version`
Display version information including git commit and build date.
```bash
dutix version
```
## Common Use Cases
### Setting Up a New Code Editor
```bash
# Set VS Code as default for common development files
dutix set "Visual Studio Code" --extensions \
"txt,md,json,yaml,yml,toml,ini,conf,\
js,ts,jsx,tsx,mjs,\
py,rb,go,rs,java,c,cpp,h,hpp,\
html,css,scss,sass"
# Preview first with dry-run
dutix set "VS Code" --extensions txt,md --dry-run
```
### Switching from One App to Another
```bash
# Migrate everything from TextEdit to VS Code
dutix apps migrate TextEdit "Visual Studio Code"
# Preview the migration first
dutix apps migrate Safari Chrome --dry-run
```
### Setting Default Web Browser
```bash
# Set Safari as default browser
dutix set Safari --schemes http,ftp,ftps
# Set Chrome
dutix set "Google Chrome" --schemes http
```
### Checking Current Defaults
```bash
# What opens .txt files?
dutix targets show txt
# What opens HTTP links?
dutix targets show http
# Get JSON output for scripting
dutix targets show txt --output json --quiet
```
### Finding App Capabilities
```bash
# See what file types an app supports
dutix apps show "Visual Studio Code"
# Find apps by name
dutix apps list --filter code
# Get machine-readable output
dutix apps show Safari --output json
```
## Output Formats
### Table (Default)
Human-readable formatted tables:
```bash
dutix apps list
```
### JSON
Machine-parseable JSON output:
```bash
dutix apps list --output json
dutix targets show txt --output json | jq '.defaultApp'
```
### YAML
Structured YAML output:
```bash
dutix apps show "Visual Studio Code" --output yaml
```
## Development
### Project Structure
```
dutix/
├── cmd/dutix/ # Application entry point
├── internal/
│ ├── cli/ # CLI commands and subcommands
│ ├── domain/ # Business logic (planner, applier)
│ ├── formatter/ # Output formatters (table, JSON, YAML)
│ ├── logger/ # Logging utilities
│ └── macos/ # macOS bridge layer
```
### Build Commands
```bash
export CGO_ENABLED=1
# Build
go build -o dutix ./cmd/dutix/
# Test
go test ./...
# Lint
golangci-lint run ./...
# Generate mocks
go generate ./...
```
## How It Works
dutix relies on [macos-apphandlers-bridge](https://github.com/jackchuka/macos-apphandlers-bridge) to interface with macOS AppKit APIs for querying and setting default application handlers.
The tool uses a three-phase approach:
1. **Plan** - Resolves targets and queries current defaults
2. **Preview** - Shows what will change before applying
3. **Apply** - Makes the changes to system defaults
## Known Limitations
- Some system-protected defaults (like http) may require user confirmation in System Settings
- Changes to certain defaults may not be reflected immediately in all applications
- Requires running as the logged-in user (not sandboxed)
- Some system-internal UTIs are automatically filtered out during migration
- `public.html` UTI cannot be set programmatically and is automatically skipped
## License
[MIT License](LICENSE)
## Contributing
Contributions welcome! See [docs/DEVELOPMENT.md](docs/DEVELOPMENT.md) for development guidelines.
## Credits
Inspired by:
- [duti](https://github.com/moretension/duti) - Command-line default handler manager
Built with:
- [Cobra](https://github.com/spf13/cobra) - CLI framework
- [tablewriter](https://github.com/rodaine/table) - Table formatting
- [macos-apphandlers-bridge](https://github.com/jackchuka/macos-apphandlers-bridge) - macOS integration