Why does this app not run in the background?

Actions For Obsidian
1

Hi

So far love the app, only been using it for 24hrs in my free trial. However. One thing is holding me back from outright purchasing the license…

image
image492×194 38 KB

The app window itself often steals focus, and at the very least hangs out in my dock which drives my ADHD/OCD/Autistic self insane.

Am I missing something to make this go away? If not please treat this as a feature request.

2

So this is a workaround that works for now…

image
image1334×304 43 KB

3

Hi, and welcome to the forum, @acrylicus. It’s a good question, and please believe me when I say: I feel you, I do.

Here’s an FAQ page on the same topic, and even though it specifically talks about iOS, the principle/problem is the same on macOS: Why do the AFO actions behave differently than most other apps’ actions? In a nutshell: The Obsidian API is what I call a “surface-level API”, meaning the calls made to and by the API are visible. It provides a schema/protocol like the https:// that is used by browsers, and just like a browser will open when you try to open such a URL, Obsidian will open when you use its obsidian:// API. But it also mandates that return calls can only be made the same way, so AFO has to offer its own API for Obsidian to call.

So any Obsidian API call will result in both Obsidian opening, and any returning call will result in AFO opening.

So for macOS, I had to decide to either show a menubar item or a dock item, because the App Store doesn’t like “invisible” apps. An app can provide extensions to macOS, which can be invisible … but they can’t technically handle those API calls.

So that’s why it is the way it is. Sorry. There are technical limitations I can’t overcome, and Apple rules I can’t break (else I wouldn’t be able to offer Actions For Obsidian on the App Store). :man_shrugging:t2:

If it’s any consolation, AFO shuts itself down after 2 minutes when it was started by Shortcuts, and only sat in the background.

I hope this answers your question.

PS: Your workaround should work fine if you place it at the end of your workflow, but it’ll restart the app for every new run, potentially causing (slight) delays and (slightly) more battery power. I just want to mention it.