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ChatGPT

Control the ChatGPT macOS Desktop App directly from the terminal. OpenCLI supports two automation approaches for ChatGPT.

Approach 1: AppleScript (Default, No Setup)

The current built-in commands use native AppleScript automation — no extra launch flags needed.

Prerequisites

  1. Install the official ChatGPT Desktop App from OpenAI.
  2. Grant Accessibility permissions to your terminal app in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.

Commands

  • opencli chatgpt status: Check if the ChatGPT app is currently running.
  • opencli chatgpt new: Activate ChatGPT and press Cmd+N to start a new conversation.
  • opencli chatgpt send "message": Copy your message to clipboard, activate ChatGPT, paste, and submit.
  • opencli chatgpt read: Read the last visible message from the focused ChatGPT window via the Accessibility tree.
  • opencli chatgpt ask "message": Send a prompt and wait for the visible reply in one shot.

Approach 2: CDP (Advanced, Electron Debug Mode)

ChatGPT Desktop is also an Electron app and can be launched with a remote debugging port:

/Applications/ChatGPT.app/Contents/MacOS/ChatGPT \
  --remote-debugging-port=9224
export OPENCLI_CDP_ENDPOINT="http://127.0.0.1:9224"

The CDP approach is primarily for advanced automation and future desktop-only commands. The built-in command set above still works in the default AppleScript path unless you explicitly route through OPENCLI_CDP_ENDPOINT.

How It Works

  • AppleScript mode: Uses osascript to control ChatGPT, pbcopy/pbpaste to paste prompts, and the macOS Accessibility tree to read visible chat messages.
  • CDP mode: Connects via Chrome DevTools Protocol to the Electron renderer process.

Limitations

  • macOS only (AppleScript dependency)
  • AppleScript mode requires Accessibility permissions
  • read returns the last visible message in the focused ChatGPT window — scroll first if the message you want is not visible