Daniel startup script iterations

app_startup.sh

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Original:
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#!/bin/bash
 
# Open all of the requisite applications
echo 'Opening Chrome'
`open /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/`

echo 'Opening Skype'
`open /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/Applications/Skype.app/`

echo 'Opening Sparrow'
`open /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/Applications/Sparrow.app/`

echo 'Opening Linkus'
`open /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/Applications/Linkinus.app/`

echo 'Opening Adium'
`open /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/Applications/Adium.app/`

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Using variables + loop:
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#!/bin/bash

apps_path="/Volumes/Macintosh HD/Applications/"
apps=("Google Chrome" "Skype" "Sparrow" "Linkinus" "Adium")

for app in "${apps[@]}"; do
        echo "Opening ${app}"
        open "${apps_path}${app}.app"
done

You can also leverage the "application" flag which is smart enough to recursively search both /Applications and ~/Applications ...