 Courses from Alan Shaw

Create a Finder service that takes whatever you've selected, lets you navigate to a destination folder, and moves them there.

Create a service to move items in Finder to a user-selected folder with AppleScript

I can make a subfolder of the folder that is open in Finder,
but there's no convenient way to make a subfolder of amy other folder that
is showing. Let's add a Finder service to take care of that.

Create a new subfolder of any selected folder in Finder with AppleScript

Make a command-line app open in a new window, turn it into a Mac App, add new services to Finder, navigate easily between Finder and Terminal; do it all with AppleScript and Automator.

Bite-size video tutorials for badass web developers.

egghead

Create New Tools with Mac Automation

Smooth your workflow by opening Finder from Terminal and vice versa at a specific folder.

Jump from Terminal to Finder and back again

In [the previous lesson](https://egghead.io/lessons/mac-turn-a-command-line-app-into-a-menu-item-in-finder) we saved a shell script as a service for Finder. This service takes in files as arguments and opens them in Vi. Now we'll save it as a real Mac App.

Turn a command-line app into a Mac App

In [the previous lesson](https://egghead.io/lessons/bash-run-a-command-line-app-in-a-new-terminal-window-using-bash-and-applescript "Run a command-line app in a new terminal window") we created a bash script that runs a given command line in a new Terminal window. Now we'll see how to use Automator to make an instance of that available as a menu item in Finder.

Turn a command-line app into a menu item in Finder

Bash is a Unix shell and command language written by Brian Fox for the GNU Project as a free software replacement for the Bourne shell. Bash is a command processor that typically runs in a text window, where the user types commands that cause actions. Bash can also read and execute commands from a file, called a shell script.

bash

AppleScript is a peculiar language with a COBOL-like desire to read like English, but it's the key to automating UIs on the Mac. We'll use it together with bash to make Terminal open a new window to run any shell command.

Run a Command-line App in a New Terminal Window using Bash and AppleScript

Clojure is a dynamic, general-purpose programming language, combining the approachability and interactive development of a scripting language with an efficient and robust infrastructure for multithreaded programming. Clojure is a compiled language, yet remains completely dynamic – every feature supported by Clojure is supported at runtime. Clojure provides easy access to the Java frameworks, with optional type hints and type inference, to ensure that calls to Java can avoid reflection.

clojure

In this lesson I show what a Clojure keyword is and why we prefer them as keys in maps; and the three ways we can look up a value in a map.

Keywords and Map Lookup in Clojure and ClojureScript

ClojureScript is a compiler for Clojure that targets JavaScript. It emits JavaScript code which is compatible with the advanced compilation mode of the Google Closure optimizing compiler.

clojurescript

In this lesson I show you how to get and manipulate command-line arguments in Clojure/ClojureScript by writing a small program that greets you by name. I also show how comments are delimited, how to get a value out of a sequence, how to bind a symbol to a value, and how to define a function.

Handle command-line arguments in ClojureScript


We'll use Lumo, a cross-platform standalone ClojureScript compiler and Node.js environment, to create Hello as a command-line application. 

In this lesson, I’ll show you how to install Lumo through NPM, invoke a function in ClojureScript, and use the println function from the core library.

Compile and Run a ClojureScript Command-line App on Node.js with Lumo

JavaScript® (often shortened to JS) is a lightweight, interpreted, object-oriented language with first-class functions, most known as the scripting language for Web pages, but used in many non-browser environments as well such as node.js or Apache CouchDB. It is a prototype-based, multi-paradigm scripting language that is dynamic, and supports object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles.

javascript

In this lesson we write an imperative function to flatten nested arrays, and then use the popular map, reduce, compose, and pipe functions to transform it into a high-level, point-free, functional implementation.

Flattening nested arrays: a little exercise in functional refactoring

In this lesson you will learn how to use partial application to eliminate boilerplate and customize data processing for concise and readable code. Partial application makes it easy to apply functional programming techniques like map, filter, and reduce to transform data while leaving the originals intact.

Write Concise Data Transformations in JavaScript with Partial Application

Stop waiting for a single AI agent! This lesson demonstrates a powerful workflow to massively parallelize your AI-driven development in Cursor. Learn how to use tools like `file-forge` to package your project context, prompt advanced AI models (like Gemini in AI Studio) to brainstorm features and generate setup scripts, and then leverage a custom `git worktree` CLI tool (`wt`) to automatically launch an "army" of isolated Cursor instances, each tackling a different task on its own branch.

**Workflow Demonstrated / Key Benefits:**

*   **Bundle Project Context:** Use `file-forge` to create an AI-friendly representation of your codebase.
*   **AI-Powered Brainstorming & Scripting:** Prompt a reasoning model (e.g., Gemini via AI Studio) to suggest features *and* generate a shell script (`zsh`/`bash`) to automate setup.
*   **Automated Worktree Creation:** Execute the generated script which uses a custom `git worktree` CLI (`wt`) to:
    *   Create new branches and worktrees for each suggested feature.
    *   Install dependencies automatically (e.g., `pnpm install`).
    *   Launch multiple, isolated Cursor instances.
*   **Parallel AI Development:** Assign different features or implementation approaches to each Cursor agent (Composer) simultaneously.
*   **Efficient Monitoring:** Easily switch between active Cursor projects/worktrees using `Ctrl+R` or OS spaces.
*   **Seamless Integration:** Merge completed features back into your main branch using `wt merge` or use agents to commit, push, and create Pull Requests via the GitHub CLI (`gh pr create`).
*   **Boost Productivity:** Dramatically speed up iteration and experimentation by running multiple AI agents concurrently without conflicts.

This approach transforms your workflow, allowing you to explore multiple development paths simultaneously and integrate the best results efficiently using standard Git practices.

**Resources** 

https://www.npmjs.com/package/@johnlindquist/worktree
https://www.npmjs.com/package/@johnlindquist/file-forge

**Want to Learn More? Sign-up for my Cursor Workshop!**

https://egghead.io/workshop/cursor

John Lindquist

Swarm Intelligence: Massively Parallelize Your AI Agents in Cursor

Creating powerful and context-aware tools for Cursor IDE becomes straightforward when leveraging information directly from your current project. In this lesson, you'll learn how to build a custom MCP (model context protocol) tool that intelligently requests essential details—such as the current project path and conversation summaries—from your Cursor project.

Workflow demonstrated in this lesson:

- Define MCP tool parameters to request specific project details.
- Pass project path and conversation summaries into your MCP tool.
- Automatically write or update files within your current project using these parameters.

Key benefits:

- Automate tasks with precision based on your active project's context.
- Simplify interactions by creating AI-driven CLI commands tailored to your needs.
- Open endless possibilities for integrating external APIs and advanced automation.

Through this practical demonstration, you'll gain a versatile technique for enhancing your development workflow in Cursor IDE.

[https://github.com/johnlindquist/mcp-cursor-tool-starter](https://github.com/johnlindquist/mcp-cursor-tool-starter)

Build MCP Tools Using Project Context for Custom Cursor IDE Automation

Setting up custom MCP (Machine Command Protocol) servers in Cursor can involve tedious steps, such as configuring node paths or referencing additional commands. This lesson shows how to streamline this process by bundling your MCP server directly into a standalone executable.

Workflow demonstrated in this lesson:

- Use a simple MCP server project starter.
- Run a single bundling command to create an executable.
- Right-click the generated executable, copy its full path, and add that directly to your Cursor settings.

Key benefits:

- Eliminates the need for complex node path configurations.
- Simplifies the setup and integration of custom MCP servers into Cursor.
- Makes the server executable instantly accessible within your Cursor environment.

By following this streamlined approach, you can quickly and easily integrate custom MCP servers into Cursor, making your development workflow cleaner and more efficient.

[https://github.com/johnlindquist/mcp-cursor-tool-starter]()

Easy MCP Server Setup in Cursor IDE with Bundled Executables

TanStack Router is the foundation for TanStack Start, which is gaining significant attention due to its innovative approach to application development.

This course focuses on getting effective TanStack Router, a modern and scalable routing solution for React applications. You will learn how to:
- set up and scaffold new applications,
- use file-based routing
- create nested routes
- manage dynamic route parameters and more.

The course covers advanced features like route loaders, caching strategies, and lifecycle hooks, which are crucial for enhancing application performance and user experience.

By understanding TanStack Router, you can build more efficient, type-safe, and maintainable applications, leveraging its integration with data fetching libraries like TanStack Query.

This knowledge is essential for developers looking to improve their routing skills and stay ahead in the field.

Tomasz Ducin

Up and Running with Tanstack Router and React

Learn TanStack Router for React: set up apps, use file-based routing, manage routes, and boost app performance.


In this lesson, we explore how TanStack Router integrates with the [native browser history API](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/History) to manage navigation.

As we navigate through different routes, the URL changes are stored in the browser's history, allowing users to use the forward and backward buttons to traverse their navigation history.

This functionality also **enables permalinks**, meaning users can copy and paste URLs to access specific routes directly.

Additionally, we learn how to programmatically interact with the history object to move forward or backward through the navigation stack, enhancing the user experience by providing full control over navigation actions.

This compatibility with the native history API ensures that TanStack Router applications behave similarly to traditional websites, offering a seamless and intuitive user experience.

Browse History in Tanstack Router

Browse history in TanStack React Router using the native history API for seamless navigation

In this lesson, we explore how to hook into TanStack Router's lifecycle hooks to execute custom logic during route changes.

The hooks we'll look into are: `onEnter`, `onStay`, and `onLeave`, which are triggered when entering, staying within, or leaving a route, respectively.

All hooks receive a detailed match parameter, providing information about the route's path, ID, and tons of other details.

This allows for the implementation of features like animations or logging when navigating between routes.

We also learn how to use these hooks to track and manage state changes as users interact with the application, making it easier to implement complex behaviors based on route transitions.

Hook into Route Lifecycle Hooks in Tanstack Router

Hook into TanStack React Router's lifecycle hooks for custom route logic and animations.

In this lesson, we learn how to handle not found errors in TanStack Router by using the `notFoundComponent` at both nested and global levels.

To trigger the display of a `notFoundComponent`, we must throw a specific error using the `notFound` function within a loader or other lifecycle method of a route. This approach allows us to provide custom error messages for specific routes or globally across the application.

We explore how to define a notFoundComponent within a specific route's configuration and how to set a `defaultNotFoundComponent` at the router global level, which applies to all routes unless overridden locally. This flexibility ensures that users receive meaningful feedback when encountering non-existent routes.

Provide NotFoundComponent at Nested Route or Global Level in Tanstack Router

Handle notFound errors in TanStack Router with notFoundComponent at nested or global levels.



In this lesson, we learn how to access dynamic route parameters using the `useParams` hook in TanStack Router.

When used with a specific `Route` object, `useParams` provides type-safe access to route parameters, ensuring that TypeScript knows the exact types of these parameters.

This approach eliminates the possibility of undefined/optional values, making it safer for accessing parameters like `employeeId`.

However, when using `useParams` globally without specifying a route, it requires an options object with `{ strict: false }`, which reduces type safety.

In this case, the hook can access parameters from any route in the application, but it does not guarantee their existence or type. This flexibility allows components to be reused across different routes, but it requires careful handling of potential errors.



Access Dynamic Route Parameters with useParams in Tanstack Router

Access dynamic route parameters with useParams in TanStack React Router for type-safe routing.

In this lesson, we learn how to reorganize file-based routes in TanStack Router to accommodate nested routing structures.

We explore how to create additional nested routes by converting files into directories, allowing for further nesting.

For example, to create a nested route like `/employees/$employeeId/edit`, we can create a **directory** (!) named `$employeeId` and place an `index.tsx` file inside it to define the route component for this nested route.

This approach provides flexibility in organizing files while maintaining the convention that file names and locations align with route paths. We also see how to adapt existing components and loaders to work with these reorganized routes, enabling features like edit forms or delete actions (or whatever) within nested routes.


Reorganize File-Based Routes in Tanstack Router

Reorganize file-based routes in TanStack Router for flexible nested routing.



In this lesson, we learn how to parametrize the loader for a nested route in TanStack Router.

We focus on a nested route like `/employees/$employeeId`, where the `$employeeId` is a **dynamic parameter**.

To fetch data for this route, we use a `loader` function that accesses the `$employeeId` parameter. This is achieved by using the params object available in the `loader` function, which contains the dynamic segments of the URL. We then use this parameter to call a function like `getEmployeeById`, which fetches specific employee details from an API.

We highlights that TanStack Router **automatically infers types** for these parameters, ensuring type safety for nested routes.

Parametrize Route Loader for Nested Route in Tanstack Router

Parametrize nested route loaders in TanStack Router using path parameters

Alan Shaw

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