Converting Automator Action in applescript to bash script

applescriptautomatorbashftp

I just wrote an Automator app using AppleScript (along with a couple of bash lines) to start FTP with a single click. However it runs more than a tad slow. Here's the code:

set ftpstatus to "off"
try
    do shell script "echo \"QUIT\" | telnet 127.0.0.1" & " ftp 2>&1 | grep  \"Escape character is\" > /dev/null"
    set ftpstatus to "on"
on error
    set ftpstatus to "off"
end try
if (ftpstatus = "off") then
    set ipaddr to IPv4 address of (get system info)
    set sun to short user name of (get system info)
    do shell script "sudo -s launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist" with administrator privileges
    tell application "Finder" to display alert "FTP Launched and ready for file-transfer" & character id 8233 & character id 8233 & character id 8233 & "Address: ftp://" & ipaddr & ":21" & character id 8233 & "User Name: " & sun
else
    do shell script "sudo -s launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist" with administrator privileges
    tell application "Finder" to display alert "FTP session closed"
end if

Here's what the code does:

Check if FTP server is running
If yes, turn it off and throw a message box saying "FTP session closed"
If no, turn it on and throw a message box saying "FTP session open" along with my IP address and username

This script works like charm but since it's too slow, I am wondering if there's any way to convert it to a bash shell script. That should speed up things a lot. Any suggestions?

Best Answer

I'm not sure I understand correctly - if in the third line of Your script You're checking whether ftp service is running You can use following script:

#!/bin/bash                                                                                                                   

launchctl list | grep ftpd

if [ $? != 0 ]; then
    IPADDR=$(ifconfig -a | perl -nle'/(\d+\.\d+\.\d+\.\d+)/ && print $1' | grep -v 127.0.0.1)
    launchctl load "/System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist"
    osascript -e "tell application \"Finder\" to display alert \"FTP Launched and ready for file-transfer\" & character id 8233 & character id 8233 & character id 8233 & \"Address: ftp://\" & \"$IPADDR\" & \":21\" & character id 8233 & \"User Name: \" & \"$USER\""
else
    launchctl unload -w "/System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist"
    osascript -e 'tell application "Finder" to display alert "FTP session closed"'
fi

Run this a sudo. Explanation:

To check if job is running use launchctl list.
To get ip address quickly use my perl script (You may want to grep it differently in order to get rid of additional IP addresses.
The only problem now is that Finder app is not brought to front but this can be solved if needed.

Why use Automator when you can stay in bash?

I found a really cool little script called appify that will instantly turn other scripts into actual applications. You can try it a few times to observe its behavior. Since you already use bash, I am hoping that this answer as an alternative to exactly what you are asking for is acceptable.

The idea is to split your script into 3 distinct scripts:

1: start ftp service on preferred network interface only

 #!/bin/bash
 #start ftp service
 #sudo="/usr/bin/sudo"
 #launchctl="/bin/launchctl"
 say="/usr/bin/say"
 networksetup="/usr/sbin/networksetup"
 tail="/usr/bin/tail"
 head="/usr/bin/head"
 cut="/usr/bin/cut"
 curl="/usr/bin/curl"
 currentInterface=$(networksetup -listnetworkserviceorder |tail +2 |head -n1 |cut -c5-12)
 getExternaladdress=$(curl ipecho.net/plain)
 SiriSays="say -v Samantha"
 #sudo -s launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist 
 #your command will start ftp on all network interfaces
 if [ "$currentInterface" = "Airport" ]; 
      then
           networksetup -setpassiveftp Airport on
      else
           networksetup --setpassiveftp Ethernet on
 fi
 $SiriSays "ftp service has been initiated for the"
 echo $currentInterface |$SiriSays; $SiriSays "interface"
 $SiriSays "Your external IP address is"
 echo $getExternaladdress | $SiriSays
 exit

2: stop ftp service

 #!/bin/bash
 #stop ftp service
 #sudo="/usr/bin/sudo"
 #launchctl="/bin/launchctl"
 networksetup="/usr/sbin/networksetup"
 say="/usr/bin/say"
 tail="/usr/bin/tail"
 head="/usr/bin/head"
 cut="/usr/bin/cut"
 currentInterface=$(networksetup -listnetworkserviceorder |tail +2 |head -n1 |cut -c5-12)
 SiriSays="say -v Samantha"
 #sudo -s launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist
 #your command requires sudo
 if [ "$currentInterface" = "Airport" ]; 
      then
           networksetup -setpassiveftp Airport off
      else
           networksetup -setpassiveftp Ethernet off
 fi
 $SiriSays "ftp service has been terminated"
 exit

3: check ftp service status

 #!/bin/bash
 #check ftp service status
 networksetup="/usr/sbin/networksetup"
 say="/usr/bin/say"
 tail="/usr/bin/tail"
 head="/usr/bin/head"
 cut="/usr/bin/cut"
 currentInterface=$(networksetup -listnetworkserviceorder |tail +2 |head -n1 |cut -c5-12)
 SiriSays="say -v Samantha"
 if [ "$currentInterface" = "Airport" ]; 
      then
           networksetup -getpassiveftp Airport |$SiriSays
      else
           networksetup -getpassiveftp Ethernet |$SiriSays
 fi
 exit

Then apply the appify script to them

What you're left with is three little apps to put in your dock that, when launched, will start or stop the ftp service on your preferred network interface, or tell you what's up with ftp, respectively, and should not require any admin password. I only had time to test the first one, so if they don't work as I hope they do, then you can comment out or delete my logic and use your launchctl method.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

MacOS – AppleScript vs. Bash script

MacOS – Automator service for FTP

Why use Automator when you can stay in bash?

The idea is to split your script into 3 distinct scripts:

Then apply the appify script to them

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