Question 1

How do I open a file with a specific browser using open-cli?

Accepted Answer

Use the -- flag followed by the browser name and any arguments, like 'open-cli https://example.com -- firefox'. This overrides the default app, as shown in the examples. You can also add browser-specific flags, such as --incognito for Chrome.

Question 2

open-cli vs xdg-open: which should I use on Linux?

Accepted Answer

open-cli offers cross-platform consistency and advanced features like --wait, making it better for scripts that need to run on multiple OSes. xdg-open is native to Linux and doesn't require Node.js, so it's lighter for Linux-only setups. Choose based on your need for portability versus minimal dependencies.

Question 3

Why isn't open-cli detecting my file type from stdin?

Accepted Answer

If stdin content lacks clear file type markers, use the --extension flag to specify it manually, e.g., 'echo '

Hi

' | open-cli --extension=html'. The README notes that detection relies on supported file types from the file-type library, which may not cover all cases.

Question 4

Can open-cli handle binary files or executables directly?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it can open executables and binary files by path, but for stdin, binary detection might be limited; the --extension flag can help. The tool is designed to open any file or URL with the system's default app, so executables launch directly if permitted.

Question 5

How to make open-cli wait for an app to close in a shell script?

Accepted Answer

Use the --wait flag, e.g., 'open-cli document.pdf --wait', which pauses the script until the opened application exits. This is useful for automation where subsequent steps depend on the app being closed, as mentioned in the options.

Question 6

Is open-cli available through system package managers like apt or brew?

Accepted Answer

No, it's primarily distributed via npm as 'open-cli', requiring Node.js installation. While some third-party packages might exist, the official method is npm, which could be a drawback for users avoiding Node.js in their system.

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