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API ReferenceOS APIsshell

shell

import { shell } from "@tynd/core/client";

Launch URLs / files through the OS’s default handler.

openExternal(url): Promise<void>

Opens the URL in the default browser.

await shell.openExternal("https://example.com");
await shell.openExternal("mailto:hi@example.com");

Scheme allowlist — only http://, https://, mailto: are accepted. Passing file://, javascript:, data:, or a registered custom scheme throws.

openPath(path): Promise<void>

Opens a filesystem path in the OS default handler for that file type.

await shell.openPath("/Users/me/document.pdf");
await shell.openPath("C:\\Users\\Me\\spreadsheet.xlsx");
  • Absolute paths only (relative paths resolve against the app’s cwd, which is unreliable).
  • The OS decides what app handles the file type.
  • Returns when the launch is initiated, not when the target app is ready.

Notes

  • Reveal-in-file-manager isn’t exposed yet — workaround: process.exec("explorer", { args: [folder] }) on Windows, open on macOS, xdg-open on Linux.
  • Neither function throws on missing files / unreachable URLs — the OS handler surfaces those errors to the user.
  • process — process.exec for more control over what’s launched.
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