LK
lkubb/dooti
Manage default handlers for files and URI schemes on macOS 12.0+.
==============
Dooti overview
Manage default handlers for files and URI schemes on MacOS 12.0+.
Features
- Manage handlers by specifying file extension, UTI or URI scheme.
- Specify handlers by name, bundle ID or absolute path.
- Check your associations into a dotfiles repository and ensure an idempotent state by simply running
dooti apply.
Installation
I recommend installing with pipx <https://pipx.pypa.io/stable/>_, although pip will work fine as well:
.. code-block:: bash
pipx install dooti
Quickstart
dooti currently supports three specific subcommands (ext, scheme, uti) and a broad one (apply).
Lookup handlers
Simply pass a list of one specific type to the appropriate command. Example:
.. code-block:: console
$ dooti ext html xml
html: /Applications/Firefox.app
xml: /Applications/Sublime Text.app
$ dooti --format json scheme http https ftp | jq
{
"http": "/Applications/Firefox.app",
"https": "/Applications/Firefox.app",
"ftp": "/System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app"
}
$ dooti uti public.html
public.html: /Applications/Firefox.app
Set handlers
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Changing the default handler can be requested by adding ``-x <handler_ref>`` to the lookup command. The handler reference can be a name, bundle ID or absolute filesystem path. Example:
.. code-block:: console
$ dooti ext csv xml -x "Sublime Text"
The following extensions are set to be changed:
csv: /Applications/Numbers.app -> /Applications/Sublime Text.app
xml: /Applications/Firefox.app -> /Applications/Sublime Text.app
$ dooti scheme ftp -x /Applications/Firefox.app
The following scheme is set to be changed:
ftp: /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app -> /Applications/Firefox.app
$ dooti -tf json uti public.c-source -x com.sublimetext.4
{"changes": {"utis": {"public.c-source": {"from": "/Applications/Notes.app", "to": "/Applications/Sublime Text.app"}}}, "errors": []}
Ensure state
~~~~~~~~~~~~
``dooti`` can ingest and apply a YAML configuration like this:
.. code-block:: yaml
ext:
jpeg: Preview
scheme:
http: Firefox
mailto: Mail
uti:
public.c‑source: Sublime Text
app:
Sublime Text:
ext:
- py
- rst
- yml
- yaml
uti:
- public.fortran‑source
Brave Browser:
scheme:
- ipfs
By default, it looks at ``$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/dooti/config.yaml`` (and others, see ``docs/usage.rst``).
Limitations
-----------
* The designated handler has to be installed before running the command.
* Setting some URI scheme handlers (especially for http) might cause a prompt.
* Setting some file extension handlers might be restricted (especially html seems to fail silently).
Why?
----
Most existing tools use `LSSetDefaultRoleHandlerForContentType <https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreservices/1444955-lssetdefaultrolehandlerforconten>`_ and `LSSetDefaultHandlerForURLScheme <https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreservices/1447760-lssetdefaulthandlerforurlscheme?language=objc>`_, which are deprecated in macOS 12.0. ``dooti`` uses a more recent API and should work on Monterey (12.0) and above.
Similar tools
-------------
* `duti <https://github.com/moretension/duti>`_
* `openwith <https://github.com/jdek/openwith>`_
* `defaultbrowser <https://gist.github.com/miketaylr/5969656>`_
* `SwiftDefaultApps <https://github.com/Lord-Kamina/SwiftDefaultApps>`_
On this page
Languages
Python100.0%
Contributors
Latest Release
v0.2.2October 18, 2024GNU General Public License v3.0
Created January 28, 2022
Updated June 3, 2025