📦 Raycast Script: Installed Apps Summary

This Raycast script lists all installed macOS apps, copies the names to your clipboard, and shows a notification summarizing how many were installed in the current and previous year.

💡 Why This Is Useful

Ever find yourself wondering “Do I already have an app installed that can do this?”

I use this script when I need to do something like:

• Batch rename files
• Convert videos to audio
• Extract text from PDFs
• Or do any random task I think I might already have an app for (but can't remember)...

Instead of digging through Finder, I run this script to generate a full list of my installed apps — it gets copied to the clipboard instantly. Then I paste that list into ChatGPT and ask:

“Which of these apps can [do the task]?”

It’s a great way to rediscover what’s already on your system and avoid unnecessary downloads.

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📋 What It Does

• Scans apps in /Applications and ~/Applications
• Copies app names to your clipboard (alphabetically sorted)
• Displays a notification showing:
  • ✅ Total number of apps
  • 📆 How many were modified (installed) this year
  • 📆 How many were modified last year

🖼️ Example Notification Output

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🛠 How to Set It Up in Raycast

1. Open Raycast

• In settings, click the + button
• Select "Create Script Command"

2. Fill in the Details

Field	Value
Template	Bash
Mode	Silent
Title	Installed Apps Summary
Description	Copies installed app names to clipboard and shows stats
Package Name	(Optional — e.g., Utilities)

Click "Create Script Command" to generate the file.

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3. Replace the Script Contents

Oprn the new script in a text editor. Replace its contents with the following:

#!/bin/bash

# Required parameters:
# @raycast.schemaVersion 1
# @raycast.title Installed apps summary
# @raycast.mode silent

# Optional parameters:
# @raycast.icon 🤖

# Documentation:
# @raycast.description Copies installed app names to clipboard and shows install stats by year.
# @raycast.author jonbstrong
# @raycast.authorURL https://raycast.com/jonbstrong

folders=("/Applications" "$HOME/Applications")
year_now=$(date +%Y)
year_prev=$((year_now - 1))

count_now=0
count_prev=0

# Find and sort app names
all_apps=$(find "${folders[@]}" -maxdepth 1 -name "*.app")
app_names=$(echo "$all_apps" | sed 's:.*/::; s:.app$::' | sort)
echo "$app_names" | pbcopy
total_count=$(echo "$app_names" | wc -l | tr -d ' ')

# Count apps by year
while IFS= read -r app; do
  mod_year=$(date -r "$(stat -f "%m" "$app")" +%Y)
  [[ "$mod_year" == "$year_now" ]] && ((count_now++))
  [[ "$mod_year" == "$year_prev" ]] && ((count_prev++))
done <<< "$all_apps"

# Show notification
message="${total_count} total apps
📆 Installed in $year_now: $count_now
📆 Installed in $year_prev: $count_prev"

osascript -e "display notification \"$message\" with title \"Raycast: Apps copied\" sound name \"Glass\""