Chute

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Get started ​

This guide walks you through installing Chute, creating your first project, and running a compiled shortcut on your Mac.

Prerequisites ​

  • Node.js version 22 or later
  • macOS (required for compiling and running shortcuts)

Install Chute ​

Install the CLI globally with npm:

sh
npm i -g @chutelang/cli

Verify the installation:

sh
chute --version

Create a project ​

Use chute init to scaffold a new project:

sh
chute init my-shortcut
cd my-shortcut

This creates three files:

  • chute.json: project configuration (name, source directory, output directory)
  • src/main.chute: your shortcut's source code
  • .gitignore: ignores the build/ directory

Open src/main.chute and you'll see the starter template:

shortcut {
  name: "Hello World",
  description: "A shortcut created with Chute",
}

showAlert(text: "Hello from Chute!");

Every Chute file starts with an optional shortcut metadata block that sets the shortcut's name and description. After that comes the body. The body is a sequence of statements that become the shortcut's actions.

showAlert is a built-in action from the standard library. In the Shortcuts app, this is the "Show Alert" action. In Chute, you call it like a function.

Build and run ​

Compile your shortcut:

sh
chute build

This produces a signed .shortcut file in the build/ directory. To compile and immediately open it in the Shortcuts app:

sh
chute run src/main.chute

The Shortcuts app will prompt you to add the shortcut. Tap "Add Shortcut" and run it. You.ll see the "Hello from Chute!" alert.

Add some logic ​

Let's make the shortcut more interesting. Replace the contents of src/main.chute with:

shortcut {
  name: "Greeter",
  description: "Asks for your name and greets you",
}

const name = ask(prompt: "What's your name?");
showAlert(text: "Hello, ${name}!");

This introduces two concepts:

  • Variables — const name = ... binds the result of ask() to a variable. In Shortcuts, this is equivalent to setting a variable from the output of the "Ask for Input" action.
  • String interpolation — "Hello, ${name}!" embeds the value of name into the string. This compiles to the same thing as dragging a magic variable into a text field in Shortcuts.

Build and run it again:

sh
chute run src/main.chute

The shortcut will ask for your name, then show an alert greeting you.

Use control flow ​

Chute supports if/else, for loops, repeat, and menu, all of which compile to their Shortcuts equivalents. Here's a shortcut that presents a menu based on what's in your clipboard:

shortcut {
  name: "Clipboard Actions",
  description: "Do something with your clipboard",
}

const text = getClipboard();

menu "What do you want to do?" {
  case "Share" {
    share(input: text);
  }
  case "Make Uppercase" {
    const upper = changeCase(text: text, case: "UPPERCASE");
    setClipboard(value: upper);
    showAlert(text: "Copied uppercase text!");
  }
}

In the Shortcuts app, menu compiles to a "Choose from Menu" action, but you get to write it with real syntax instead of dragging blocks around.

What's next ​

Now that you've built and run your first shortcuts, explore the rest of the documentation: