https://github.com/smalls1652/smallsonline.macos.defaultbrowser
https://github.com/smalls1652/smallsonline.macos.defaultbrowser
Last synced: 6 months ago
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- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/smalls1652/smallsonline.macos.defaultbrowser
- Owner: Smalls1652
- License: mit
- Created: 2023-12-13T22:28:24.000Z (almost 2 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2023-12-13T23:03:56.000Z (almost 2 years ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-04-04T13:12:50.143Z (6 months ago)
- Language: C#
- Size: 75.2 KB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 2
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
# macOS Default Browser Switcher
This is just a quickly thrown together project to get somewhat acclimated with interop support in .NET. I've never attempted something like this before, so it's mostly just a learning experience to understand how it works and also create my own tool for changing the default browser on macOS.
It also takes advantage of [.NET Native AOT](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/deploying/native-aot), so the compiled executable/binary has no requirement for the .NET runtime and has a faster startup time.
The core of the tool utilizes functions in the:
- [Core Foundation Framework](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/corefoundation)
- [Launch Services API](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreservices/launch_services)
Specifically for the purposes of getting and setting the default browser for macOS, I'm using two functions found in the [Launch Services API](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreservices/launch_services):
- [`func LSCopyDefaultHandlerForURLScheme(_ inURLScheme: CFString)`](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreservices/1441725-lscopydefaulthandlerforurlscheme)
- [`func LSSetDefaultHandlerForURLScheme(_ inURLScheme: CFString, _ inHandlerBundleID: CFString)`](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreservices/1447760-lssetdefaulthandlerforurlscheme)
> ❗️ **Heads up**
>
> Both of these functions are **deprecated**. They still _work_, but they can be removed in a future macOS release. There aren't, as far as I'm aware, **any** replacement functions.
>
> **As of macOS Sonoma (`14.1.2`), they still work.**
## 🏗️ Building
### 🧰 Prerequisites
- A device capable of running macOS.
- [.NET 8 SDK](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet/8.0)
- Command Line Tools for XCode
- You can run `xcode-select --install` in a terminal console (**e.g.** _Terminal.app_) to install it.
### 📦 Compiling
In a terminal console (**e.g.** _Terminal.app_), run the following commands:
```bash
# Clone the 'SmallsOnline.MacOS.DefaultBrowser' repo.
git clone https://github.com/Smalls1652/SmallsOnline.MacOS.DefaultBrowser.git
# Enter the 'SmallsOnline.MacOS.DefaultBrowser' directory.
cd ./SmallsOnline.MacOS.DefaultBrowser
# Compile the CLI tool with one of the following commands
# If you're on a Mac that has a M-series chip (Apple Silicon):
dotnet publish ./src/ConsoleApp/ --configuration "Release" --output "./build" --runtime "osx-arm64"
# If you're on a Mac that has an Intel CPU:
dotnet publish ./src/ConsoleApp/ --configuration "Release" --output "./build" --runtime "osx-x64"
```
Once it's finished compiling, the `browserdefault` executable/binary file will be in the `./build` directory.
## 🏃♂️ Usage
### Get the current default browser
`./browserdefault`
**Output:**
```
URL Scheme | Bundle ID
-----------+-----------------
http | com.apple.Safari
https | com.apple.Safari
```
### Change the default browser
`./browserdefault {{BROWSER_BUNDLE_ID}}`
Replace `{{BROWSER_BUNDLE_ID}}` with any bundle ID (`CFBundleIdentifier`) for a web browser. These are some of the more common ones:
| Web Browser | Bundle ID |
| --- | --- |
| **Apple Safari** | `com.apple.Safari` |
| **Mozilla Firefox** | `org.mozilla.firefox` |
| **Google Chrome** | `com.google.Chrome` |
| **Chromium** | `org.chromium.Chromium` |
| **Microsoft Edge** | `com.microsoft.edgemac` |
For example, if you wanted to change your default web browser to **Mozilla Firefox**, you can run this:
`./browserdefault "org.mozilla.firefox"`
> ⚠️ **Note**
>
> You will get a prompt, like the one below, when ran. In order for the change to take effect, **you must click on the button for using the browser you specified**.
>
> 
## 🤝 License
This project is licensed under the [MIT License](./LICENSE).