Send iMessage from the commandline

imessage

#!/bin/sh
if [ "$#" -eq 1 ]; then stdinmsg=$(cat); fi
exec <"$0" || exit; read v; read v; read v; exec /usr/bin/osascript - "$@" "$stdinmsg"; exit

-- another way of waiting until an app is running
on waitUntilRunning(appname, delaytime)
    repeat until my appIsRunning(appname)
        tell application "Messages" to close window 1
        delay delaytime
    end repeat

    -- the fact that Messages.app is running
    -- does not mean it is ready to send,
    -- unfortunately, add another small delay
    delay delaytime
end waitUntilRunning

on appIsRunning(appName)
    application appname is running
end appIsRunning

-- use system events (unused)
on SysevAppIsRunning(appName)
    tell application "System Events" to (name of processes) contains appName
end appIsRunning

-- use finder (unusged)
on finderAppIsRunning(appName)
    tell application "Finder" to (name of every process) contains appName
end appIsRunning

-- taken from:
-- http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11812184/how-to-send-an-imessage-text-with-applescript-only-in-provided-service
-- thanks to users @Senseful and @DigiLord
on run {targetBuddyPhone, targetMessage}
    tell application "Messages"
        -- if Messages.app was not running, launch it
        set wasRunning to true
        if it is not running then
            set wasRunning to false
            launch
            close window 1
            my waitUntilRunning("Messages", 1)
            close window 1
        end if

        -- send the message
        set targetService to 1st service whose service type = iMessage
        set targetBuddy to buddy targetBuddyPhone of targetService
        send targetMessage to targetBuddy

        -- if the app was not running, close the window
        if not wasRunning
            close window 1
        end if
    end tell
end run

Yeah, for the buddy id error, you need to have an existing conversation first!

For the Messages got an error: Can’t get buddy id ... error Is there any way to create a buddy id without manually messaging first?

I tried importing a CSV into Contacts.app, which I thought would work, but... nope.

I just got a bunch of people join a meetup I co-organize and was hoping to not have to message all of the new ones individually before sending reminders.

@solderjs
Here's how to send messages without manually creating a buddy:

#!/bin/sh
if [ "$#" -eq 1 ]; then stdinmsg=$(cat); fi
exec <"$0" || exit; read v; read v; read v; exec /usr/bin/osascript - "$@" "$stdinmsg"; exit

on run {phoneNumber, message}
    activate application "Messages"
    tell application "System Events" to tell process "Messages"
        key code 45 using command down -- press Command + N to start a new window
        keystroke phoneNumber -- input the phone number
        key code 36 -- press Enter to focus on the message area 
        keystroke message -- type some message
        key code 36 -- press Enter to send
    end tell
end run

Here's how to send to multiple contacts with a csv file: https://gist.github.com/james-tindal/3951ec2c076a5158e15245f817f92de4

Works on my computer.

@solderjs
Here's how to send messages without manually creating a buddy:

#!/bin/sh
if [ "$#" -eq 1 ]; then stdinmsg=$(cat); fi
exec <"$0" || exit; read v; read v; read v; exec /usr/bin/osascript - "$@" "$stdinmsg"; exit

on run {phoneNumber, message}
    activate application "Messages"
    tell application "System Events" to tell process "Messages"
        key code 45 using command down -- press Command + N to start a new window
        keystroke phoneNumber -- input the phone number
        key code 36 -- press Enter to focus on the message area 
        keystroke message -- type some message
        key code 36 -- press Enter to send
    end tell
end run

Here's how to send to multiple contacts with a csv file: https://gist.github.com/james-tindal/3951ec2c076a5158e15245f817f92de4

Works on my computer.

Thanks for this. Is there a way to do this without having the iMessage window popup and display on the desktop?

I get error "966:967: syntax error: Expected expression, etc. but found unknown token. (-2741)" what does this mean ? thanks

Can you help me send photo through iMessage ? I tried this code but it show "Failed to send" after few minutes of waiting

set theAttachment1 to POSIX file "/path to file/test.png"
send file theAttachment1 to targetBuddy

Added some features to my fork you may find interesting:
https://gist.github.com/devopsec/0359ce51ea4fa904b1c3674b8c56db78

Is there a way to keystroke a Group chat instead of a phone number?