Shortcuts Playground
A Claude Code and Codex plugin that builds, validates and signs Apple Shortcuts from a plain-language description
Medium risk
We rate an entry medium when the tool runs code, makes network calls or reads project files. Check what exactly it does before installing.
Why this level
- Runs validation scripts and the shortcuts CLI, and writes shortcut files to disk
- A PostToolUse hook fires automatically on every XML write
Install
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add plugins/shortcuts-playgroundDetects the agents on your machine, checks the risk and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Run one by one in the Claude Code chat
/plugin marketplace add viticci/shortcuts-playground-plugin
/plugin install shortcuts-playground@shortcuts-playgroundInstall the plugin: claude plugin marketplace add https://github.com/viticci/shortcuts-playground-plugin, then claude plugin install shortcuts-playground@shortcuts-playground. Use /shortcuts-playground:build to create and /shortcuts-playground:remix to edit an existing XML. Requires macOS and Python 3.10 or later.
Other ways from the author
claude plugin marketplace add https://github.com/viticci/shortcuts-playground-plugin
claude plugin install shortcuts-playground@shortcuts-playgroundRestart the session after installing. Commands: /shortcuts-playground:build and /shortcuts-playground:remix.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
The plugin teaches Claude Code and Codex to make shortcuts for Apple's Shortcuts app from a description in words. It bundles a knowledge base of shortcut actions, their syntax and wiring, action identifiers from Apple ToolKit, and a set of golden XML examples. The agent designs the action list, wires variables, picks an icon, generates the XML, runs it through a validation loop, and signs it with the built-in macOS shortcuts CLI to produce a ready .shortcut file. The build command creates a shortcut from scratch, remix applies a surgical diff to an existing XML without touching the rest. A PostToolUse hook auto-validates every written file and feeds errors back into the agent's context.
Who it is for. For macOS and iOS users who want to build Apple Shortcuts in words without learning their internal format.
Good fit when
- You want to build an Apple Shortcut from a description rather than by hand
- You want to change an existing shortcut while keeping the other actions and wiring
- You need a signed .shortcut file ready to import into the Shortcuts app
Not a fit when
- You have no Mac: the signing step relies on the shortcuts CLI, which is macOS only
- You need automation outside Apple's Shortcuts ecosystem
Example request
Build a shortcut that asks for a city, fetches the current weather and shows a notificationLimitations
Runs only on macOS because signing uses the built-in shortcuts CLI. It needs Python 3.10 or later; the system Python 3.9 on older macOS will not work. macOS and iOS 27 identifiers and parameters turn on only via the explicit target_macos setting, and default validation stays conservative for macOS 26. By the author's estimate the plugin gets a shortcut most of the way there, and variable wiring and loops should be checked by hand.
How to disable. Uninstall the plugin: claude plugin uninstall shortcuts-playground@shortcuts-playground, then claude plugin marketplace remove shortcuts-playground. In Codex remove it via its plugin list. Your shortcuts output directory stays intact.
Security check
- Runs validation scripts and the shortcuts CLI, and writes shortcut files to disk
- A PostToolUse hook fires automatically on every XML write
README in short
The README introduces Federico Viticci's plugin that turns a plain-language description into a finished Apple Shortcut. Shortcuts are XML signed into the closed .shortcut format, and the plugin ships an action knowledge base so the agent produces valid XML. Installation goes through the Claude Code or Codex marketplace; signing needs macOS and Python 3.10 or later. It also documents the build and remix commands, the auto-validation hook, the output directory and macOS target settings. MIT licensed.
FAQ
Do I need a Mac?
Yes. Signing uses the macOS built-in shortcuts CLI, so the final .shortcut file is produced only on a Mac.
Does it work in Codex?
Yes, the repository ships a plugin for both runtimes. Claude Code has a richer set thanks to dedicated commands and agents; in Codex auto-validation is turned on via the plugin_hooks setting.
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