I just bought a new MacBook Air and am in the process of installing software and moving files over from my old machine. My copy of Hazel is totally out of date, so I’m going to have buy an upgrade. Before I do that, I am wondering if there’s a better alternative out there. I’m happy with Hazel, but, since I’m upgrading anyway, this is a good time to look around a bit. Any suggestions?
Have you tried alternativeto.net’s alternatives to Hazel?
(Best I can do; I never used Hazel, so I cannot recommend anything.)
Actually, no. Keyboard Maestro is very powerful, but I had to keep Hazel around because folder actions are actually very hard to do reliably in other utilities. Hazel is the best solution.
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This may sound crazy, but give Claude desktop a go.
Install the Filesystem extension and have a go:
This extension allows Claude to interact with your local filesystem, enabling it to read and write files directly. This can be useful for tasks such as file management, data processing, and automation of repetitive tasks. The extension provides a set of tools that can be used to navigate directories, read file contents, and write new files or modify existing ones.
Another extension you may find useful is the “Control your Mac” extension:
This tool allows you to execute AppleScript commands using
osascript, enabling automation of tasks on macOS systems. Try asking Claude to do things on your Mac, like controlling applications or changing system settings.
They work on the free version so you can use them to your heart’s content without ever having to pay.
Alfred also has ways to work with the file system, but you may to do some work on getting the workflows to do what you want.
Yup. That definitely sounds crazy.
Let’s hope your filesystem doesn’t contain any data that Claude could use to blackmail you. Just in case you try to uninstall it.
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6 posts were split to a new topic: AI and online surveillance and such
I’ve moved the entire user data discussion to a new thread as not relevant to the OP’s question.
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Thanks for the reply. Unless somebody chimes in with a better alternative, I’m going to buy Hazel (it turns out my licenses — all three of them – have already been used for upgrades down through the years) at the first of the month. I’ve burned my budget for this month already. 
Your comment about Keyboard Maestro intrigued me and I gave it a look. From the description, it sounds something like Quicksilver, which I’ve been using for years.
Is anyone here familiar with Quicksilver? If you are, how would you compare it to Keyboard Maestro?
Thanks, R
Keyboard Maestro is closer to Apple’s Shortcuts than to Quicksilver. Keyboard Maestro is a powerful automation tool that requires no coding, but if you can code, you can incorporate AppleScript, JavaScript and bash into your automation as well.
IMHO, Keyboard Maestro is essential kit for anyone using a Mac.
One of the things I use KM for with Scrivener is when I want to export a screenplay to Final Draft as an FDX file. I have a muli-step process to collect all my document files, duplicate them, merge the duplicate into a single file, then export (NOT compile) the script out into FDX format, open it in Final Draft and enter into Reformat mode to correct any formatting mistakes in the export. With KM, I select my documents in Scivener, and then tap one keyboard shortcut. KM does it all, and even opens the FDX file in Final Draft and activates the reformatting tool.
When I have an idea I need to brainstorm, I tap a keyboard shortcut and KM asks me for a title; I type something and hit Return, and it opens Curio, makes a new page, starts a mind map, sets it up the way I like it, and then adds my title and moves the cursor to the first empty space. All I have to do is start typing.
You can also do simple things with it. If you find yourself doing something repetitive, you can take out five minutes, set up a KM macro to trigger those five steps with one key, and now you’re working five times faster.
I believe you can test drive KM for 30 days for free. I recommend it. Also, it has one of the nicest, most helpful online user communities of any product.
Thanks again for the info. I’m going to download KM’s free trial and give it whirl.