python script to create a desktop icon

Question

Right now I'am using npm start to open a desktop app (i.e nodejs server) which uses electron framework. So when ever I want to open that desktop app I have to open the terminal, go the application directory and use command "npm start" to open the nodejs server i.e desktop app.

I want to write a python scrip to create a desktop app, and when ever I double click that desktop icon, it should internally uses 'npm start' command to open that desktop app.

Can any one please help me, and my application directory is as: /Desktop/Electron/charityapp.

Answer 1

• Open Terminal
• cd ~/Desktop
• echo '#!/bin/sh' > run-my-app
• echo 'cd ~/Desktop/Electron/charityapp' >> run-my-app
• echo 'npm start' >> run-my-app
• chmod +x run-my-app

Then just double-click on the icon on the Desktop

Answer 2

Just an addition to the other answer:
if you wouldn't like to see a terminal window opening up each time you double click the bash script file you could create an Automator bundle.

1. After opening my favorite option are create an application or a service (you can later bind a shortcut to this)
2. Then select, Library → Utilities and double click on Run Shell Script
3. From there, in a couple of my previous I used this setting Services recives: no input in: any applications

4. In the Shell option you can choose /bin/bash instead of the in-script #!/bin/sh and then add the lines of scripts:

   cd ~/Desktop/Electron/charityapp     
   npm start
   

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• You could even choose python script here, but in this case I don't know how to help you.

• For a shortcut after saving the you-service-name can be seen in System Preferences → Keyboard → Shortcuts → Services.

Answer 3

Open textedit & paste it:

#!/usr/bin/env python
import os

def main():
    os.system("npm start")

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

Save it, remove its extension (using Finder is okay) & run

chmod +x /Users/ankii/Desktop/testapp

Python script executable opened by text editor