Platform Support Guide

SilentCast is designed to work seamlessly across Windows and macOS. This guide covers platform-specific features, limitations, and optimizations.

Platform Overview

Feature	Windows	macOS
Global Hotkeys	✅ Full	✅ Full
System Tray	✅ Native	✅ Native
Auto-start	✅ Task Scheduler	✅ launchd
Permissions	✅ None	⚠️ Accessibility
Shell	PowerShell/CMD	zsh/bash

Windows

System Requirements

Version: Windows 10 version 1903+ or Windows 11
Architecture: x64 or ARM64
Dependencies: None (self-contained)

Installation Methods

powershell

# Recommended: Scoop
scoop bucket add silentcast https://github.com/SphereStacking/scoop-silentcast
scoop install silentcast

# Alternative: Chocolatey
choco install silentcast

# Alternative: WinGet
winget install SphereStacking.SilentCast

Windows-Specific Features

1. PowerShell Integration

yaml

# spellbook.windows.yml
grimoire:
  system_info:
    type: script
    shell: "pwsh"  # PowerShell Core
    command: |
      Get-ComputerInfo | Select-Object CsName, WindowsVersion, OsArchitecture
    show_output: true
    
  classic_powershell:
    type: script
    shell: "powershell"  # Windows PowerShell
    command: "$PSVersionTable"

2. Windows Terminal Support

yaml

grimoire:
  terminal:
    type: app
    command: "wt"
    args: ["-w", "_quake"]  # Quake mode
    
  terminal_split:
    type: app
    command: "wt"
    args: ["split-pane", "-H", "pwsh", ";", "split-pane", "-V", "cmd"]

3. Admin Elevation

yaml

grimoire:
  edit_hosts:
    type: app
    command: "notepad"
    args: ["C:\\Windows\\System32\\drivers\\etc\\hosts"]
    admin: true  # Request UAC elevation
    
  restart_service:
    type: script
    shell: "pwsh"
    command: "Restart-Service -Name 'MySQL' -Force"
    admin: true

4. Windows-Specific Shortcuts

yaml

spells:
  # Windows key combinations
  "win+e": "explorer"
  "win+r": "run_dialog"
  "win+x": "power_menu"
  
grimoire:
  # Quick access to Windows tools
  device_manager:
    type: app
    command: "devmgmt.msc"
    
  services:
    type: app
    command: "services.msc"
    
  registry:
    type: app
    command: "regedit"
    admin: true

Windows Tips

Auto-start Setup

powershell

# Create scheduled task for auto-start
$Action = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\SilentCast\silentcast.exe"
$Trigger = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -AtLogon -User $env:USERNAME
$Settings = New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet -AllowStartIfOnBatteries -DontStopIfGoingOnBatteries -StartWhenAvailable

Register-ScheduledTask -TaskName "SilentCast" -Action $Action -Trigger $Trigger -Settings $Settings

Defender Exclusion

powershell

# Add to Windows Defender exclusions (Admin required)
Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\SilentCast"

Windows Limitations

UAC Prompts: Cannot bypass UAC for admin operations
Secure Desktop: Hotkeys don't work on UAC/login screens
Game Mode: Some games may block global hotkeys

macOS

System Requirements

Version: macOS 10.15 Catalina or later
Architecture: Intel (x64) or Apple Silicon (arm64)
Permissions: Accessibility access required

Installation Methods

bash

# Recommended: Homebrew
brew tap spherestacking/silentcast
brew install silentcast

# Alternative: Direct download
curl -L https://github.com/SphereStacking/silentcast/releases/latest/download/silentcast-darwin-$(uname -m).tar.gz | tar xz
sudo mv silentcast /usr/local/bin/

macOS-Specific Features

1. Accessibility Permissions

First run requires granting accessibility permissions:

Run SilentCast: silentcast
When prompted, open System Preferences
Go to Security & Privacy → Privacy → Accessibility
Click the lock and authenticate
Add SilentCast to the list
Restart SilentCast

2. AppleScript Integration

yaml

# spellbook.mac.yml
grimoire:
  toggle_dark_mode:
    type: script
    command: |
      osascript -e 'tell app "System Events" to tell appearance preferences to set dark mode to not dark mode'
      
  notification:
    type: script
    command: |
      osascript -e 'display notification "Task completed!" with title "SilentCast" sound name "Glass"'
      
  finder_selection:
    type: script
    command: |
      osascript -e 'tell application "Finder" to get selection as alias list'
    show_output: true

3. macOS App Shortcuts

yaml

grimoire:
  # Open apps with specific documents
  preview_pdf:
    type: app
    command: "open"
    args: ["-a", "Preview", "document.pdf"]
    
  # Reveal in Finder
  show_in_finder:
    type: app
    command: "open"
    args: ["-R", "${FILE}"]
    
  # Quick Look
  quick_look:
    type: script
    command: "qlmanage -p '${FILE}' &>/dev/null &"

4. System Integration

yaml

grimoire:
  # Spotlight search
  spotlight:
    type: script
    command: "open -a Spotlight"
    
  # Mission Control
  mission_control:
    type: script
    command: |
      osascript -e 'tell application "Mission Control" to launch'
      
  # Screenshot with options
  screenshot:
    type: script
    command: "screencapture -i -c"  # Interactive, to clipboard

macOS Tips

Auto-start with launchd

Create ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.silentcast.plist:

xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>com.silentcast</string>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/usr/local/bin/silentcast</string>
    </array>
    <key>RunAtLoad</key>
    <true/>
    <key>KeepAlive</key>
    <true/>
    <key>StandardErrorPath</key>
    <string>/tmp/silentcast.err</string>
    <key>StandardOutPath</key>
    <string>/tmp/silentcast.out</string>
</dict>
</plist>

Load it:

bash

launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.silentcast.plist

Keyboard Shortcuts

yaml

spells:
  # macOS standard shortcuts
  "cmd+space": "spotlight_enhanced"
  "cmd+tab": "app_switcher_enhanced"
  "cmd+shift+3": "screenshot_full"
  "cmd+shift+4": "screenshot_area"

macOS Limitations

Accessibility Required: Must grant permissions for global hotkeys
Secure Input: Some apps (password managers) block hotkeys
Full Disk Access: May need for certain file operations

Cross-Platform Best Practices

1. Use Platform Overrides

yaml

# spellbook.yml (base config)
grimoire:
  terminal:
    type: app
    command: "terminal"  # Generic placeholder
    
# spellbook.windows.yml
grimoire:
  terminal:
    command: "wt"  # Windows Terminal
    
# spellbook.mac.yml
grimoire:
  terminal:
    command: "Terminal"  # macOS Terminal

2. Environment Detection

yaml

grimoire:
  smart_browser:
    type: script
    command: |
      # Detect and use default browser
      if command -v open &> /dev/null; then
        open "https://example.com"       # macOS
      elif command -v start &> /dev/null; then
        start "https://example.com"      # Windows
      fi

3. Path Handling

yaml

grimoire:
  open_config:
    type: app
    command: "${EDITOR:-code}"
    args: ["${SILENTCAST_CONFIG}/spellbook.yml"]
    # SILENTCAST_CONFIG is automatically set to the right path

4. Shell Compatibility

yaml

grimoire:
  cross_platform_script:
    type: script
    # Use sh for maximum compatibility
    shell: "sh"
    command: |
      echo "This works everywhere"
      echo "Home: $HOME"
      echo "User: $USER"

Platform-Specific Troubleshooting

Windows Issues

Hotkeys not working in some applications

Some applications (especially games) may capture all keyboard input. Try:

Running SilentCast as administrator
Using windowed mode in games
Configuring game-specific exceptions

PowerShell scripts blocked

If PowerShell scripts are blocked:

powershell

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

macOS Issues

Accessibility permission keeps resetting

Fully quit SilentCast
Remove from accessibility list
Delete the app's preferences: defaults delete com.silentcast
Re-add to accessibility
Restart SilentCast

Hotkeys not working after macOS update

macOS updates often reset permissions:

Re-grant accessibility permissions
Check for SilentCast updates
Restart your Mac

Next Steps

Explore Script Execution for platform-specific automation
Configure Environment Variables
Check CLI Reference for platform-specific options
Join platform-specific discussions on Discord

Platform Support Guide ​

Platform Overview ​

Windows ​

System Requirements ​

Installation Methods ​

Windows-Specific Features ​

1. PowerShell Integration ​

2. Windows Terminal Support ​

3. Admin Elevation ​

4. Windows-Specific Shortcuts ​

Windows Tips ​

Auto-start Setup ​

Defender Exclusion ​

Windows Limitations ​

macOS ​

System Requirements ​

Installation Methods ​

macOS-Specific Features ​

1. Accessibility Permissions ​

2. AppleScript Integration ​

3. macOS App Shortcuts ​

4. System Integration ​

macOS Tips ​

Auto-start with launchd ​

Keyboard Shortcuts ​

macOS Limitations ​

Cross-Platform Best Practices ​

1. Use Platform Overrides ​

2. Environment Detection ​

3. Path Handling ​

4. Shell Compatibility ​

Platform-Specific Troubleshooting ​

Windows Issues ​

macOS Issues ​

Next Steps ​

Platform Support Guide

Platform Overview

Windows

System Requirements

Installation Methods

Windows-Specific Features

1. PowerShell Integration

2. Windows Terminal Support

3. Admin Elevation

4. Windows-Specific Shortcuts

Windows Tips

Auto-start Setup

Defender Exclusion

Windows Limitations

macOS

System Requirements

Installation Methods

macOS-Specific Features

1. Accessibility Permissions

2. AppleScript Integration

3. macOS App Shortcuts

4. System Integration

macOS Tips

Auto-start with launchd

Keyboard Shortcuts

macOS Limitations

Cross-Platform Best Practices

1. Use Platform Overrides

2. Environment Detection

3. Path Handling

4. Shell Compatibility

Platform-Specific Troubleshooting

Windows Issues

macOS Issues

Next Steps