Programming

It’s just #Vibes Man

Nov 6, 2025 / Programming
Automate Folder Archiving on macOS with Raycast and 7zip
If you’re like me and frequently need to archive project folders to an external drive, you know how tedious the process can be: right-click, compress, wait, find the archive, move it to the external drive, rename if there’s a conflict… It’s a workflow that begs for automation.

Today, I’m going to show you how I built a custom Raycast script that compresses any folder with 7zip and automatically moves it to an external drive, all with a single keyboard shortcut.

What We’re Building

A Raycast script command that:
- Takes whatever folder you have selected in Finder
- Compresses it using 7zip (better compression than macOS’s built-in zip)
- Moves it directly to a specified folder on your external drive
- Automatically handles version numbering if the archive already exists
- Provides clear error messages if something goes wrong
No more manual copying. No more filename conflicts. Just select, trigger, and done.

Prerequisites

Before we start, you’ll need:
1. Raycast - Download from raycast.com if you haven’t already
2. 7zip - Install via Homebrew:
```
   brew install p7zip
```
1. An external drive - Obviously, but make sure you know its mount path
The Problem with the Built-in Approach

Initially, I thought: “Can’t I just have Raycast pass the selected folder path as an argument?”

The answer is technically yes, but it’s clunky. Raycast would prompt you for the folder path every time, which means you’d need to:
1. Copy the folder path
2. Trigger the Raycast command
3. Paste the path
4. Hit enter
That’s not automation—that’s just extra steps with good intentions.

The Solution: AppleScript Integration

The key insight was using AppleScript to grab the currently selected item from Finder. This way, the workflow becomes:
1. Select a folder in Finder
2. Trigger the Raycast command (I use Cmd+Shift+7)
3. Watch it compress and move automatically
No input required. No path copying. Just pure automation bliss.

Building the Script

Here’s the complete script with all the error handling we need:
```
#!/bin/bash

# Required parameters:
# @raycast.schemaVersion 1
# @raycast.title Compress Selected to External Drive
# @raycast.mode fullOutput

# Optional parameters:
# @raycast.icon 📦
# @raycast.needsConfirmation false

# Documentation:
# @raycast.description Compress selected Finder folder with 7zip and move to external drive
# [@raycast.author](http://raycast.author) Your Name

EXTERNAL_DRIVE="/Volumes/YourDrive/ArchiveFolder"

# Get the selected item from Finder
FOLDER_PATH=$(osascript -e 'tell application "Finder" to set selectedItems to selection
if (count of selectedItems) is 0 then
    return ""
else
    return POSIX path of (item 1 of selectedItems as alias)
end if')

# Check if anything is selected
if [ -z "$FOLDER_PATH" ]; then
    echo "❌ Error: No item selected in Finder"
    echo "Please select a folder in Finder and try again"
    exit 1
fi

# Trim whitespace
FOLDER_PATH=$(echo "$FOLDER_PATH" | xargs)

# Check if path exists
if [ ! -e "$FOLDER_PATH" ]; then
    echo "❌ Error: Path does not exist: $FOLDER_PATH"
    exit 1
fi

# Check if path is a directory
if [ ! -d "$FOLDER_PATH" ]; then
    echo "❌ Error: Selected item is not a folder: $FOLDER_PATH"
    exit 1
fi

# Check if 7z is installed
if ! command -v 7z &> /dev/null; then
    echo "❌ Error: 7z not found. Install with: brew install p7zip"
    exit 1
fi

# Check if external drive is mounted
if [ ! -d "$EXTERNAL_DRIVE" ]; then
    echo "❌ Error: External drive not found at: $EXTERNAL_DRIVE"
    echo "Make sure the drive is connected and mounted"
    exit 1
fi

# Create archive name from folder name
BASE_NAME="$(basename "$FOLDER_PATH")"
ARCHIVE_NAME="${BASE_NAME}.7z"
OUTPUT_PATH="$EXTERNAL_DRIVE/$ARCHIVE_NAME"

# Check if archive already exists and find next available version number
if [ -f "$OUTPUT_PATH" ]; then
    echo "⚠️  Archive already exists, creating versioned copy..."
    VERSION=2
    while [ -f "$EXTERNAL_DRIVE/${BASE_NAME}_v${VERSION}.7z" ]; do
        VERSION=$((VERSION + 1))
    done
    ARCHIVE_NAME="${BASE_NAME}_v${VERSION}.7z"
    OUTPUT_PATH="$EXTERNAL_DRIVE/$ARCHIVE_NAME"
    echo "📝 Using version number: v${VERSION}"
    echo ""
fi

echo "🗜️  Compressing: $(basename "$FOLDER_PATH")"
echo "📍 Destination: $OUTPUT_PATH"
echo ""

# Compress with 7zip
if 7z a "$OUTPUT_PATH" "$FOLDER_PATH"; then
    echo ""
    echo "✅ Successfully compressed and moved to external drive"
    echo "📦 Archive: $ARCHIVE_NAME"
    echo "📊 Size: $(du -h "$OUTPUT_PATH" | cut -f1)"
else
    echo ""
    echo "❌ Error: Compression failed"
    exit 1
fi
```
Key Features Explained

1. Finder Integration

The AppleScript snippet grabs whatever you have selected in Finder:
```
FOLDER_PATH=$(osascript -e 'tell application "Finder" to set selectedItems to selection
if (count of selectedItems) is 0 then
    return ""
else
    return POSIX path of (item 1 of selectedItems as alias)
end if')
```
This returns a POSIX path (like /Users/yourname/Documents/project) that we can use with standard bash commands.

2. Comprehensive Error Checking

The script validates everything before attempting compression:
- Is anything selected?
- Does the path exist?
- Is it actually a directory?
- Is 7zip installed?
- Is the external drive connected?
Each check provides a helpful error message so you know exactly what went wrong.

3. Automatic Version Numbering

This was a crucial addition. If project.7z already exists, the script will automatically create project_v2.7z. If that exists, it’ll create project_v3.7z, and so on:
```
if [ -f "$OUTPUT_PATH" ]; then
    VERSION=2
    while [ -f "$EXTERNAL_DRIVE/${BASE_NAME}_v${VERSION}.7z" ]; do
        VERSION=$((VERSION + 1))
    done
    ARCHIVE_NAME="${BASE_NAME}_v${VERSION}.7z"
    OUTPUT_PATH="$EXTERNAL_DRIVE/$ARCHIVE_NAME"
fi
```
No more manual renaming. No more overwriting precious backups.

4. Progress Feedback

Using @raycast.mode fullOutput means you see everything that’s happening:
- Which folder is being compressed
- Where it’s going
- The final archive size
This transparency is important when you’re archiving large projects that might take a few minutes.

Setting It Up
1. Find your external drive path:
```
   ls /Volumes/
```
Look for your drive name, then determine where you want archives saved. For example: /Volumes/Expansion/WebProjectsArchive
1. Create the script:
  - Open Raycast Settings → Extensions → Script Commands
  - Click “Create Script Command”
  - Paste the script above
  - Update the EXTERNAL_DRIVE variable with your path
  - Save it (like ~/Documents/Raycast/Scripts/ or ~/.local/raycast)
2. Make it executable:
```
   chmod +x ~/.local/raycast/compress-to-external.sh
```
1. Assign a hotkey (optional but recommended):
  - In Raycast, search for your script
  - Press Cmd+K and select “Add Hotkey”
  - I use Cmd+Shift+7 for “Archive”
Using It

Now the workflow is beautifully simple:
1. Open Finder
2. Select a folder
3. Hit your hotkey (or trigger via Raycast search)
4. Watch the magic happen
The script will show you the compression progress and let you know when it’s done, including the final archive size.

Why 7zip Over Built-in Compression?

macOS has built-in zip compression, so why bother with 7zip? A few reasons:
- Better compression ratios - 7zip typically achieves 30-70% better compression than zip
- Cross-platform - .7z files are widely supported on Windows and Linux
- More options - If you want to add encryption or split archives later, 7zip supports it
- Speed - 7zip can be faster for large files
For project archives that might contain thousands of files and dependencies, these advantages add up quickly.

Potential Improvements

This script works great for my needs, but here are some ideas for enhancement:
- Multiple drive support - Let the user select from available drives
- Compression level options - Add arguments for maximum vs. fast compression
- Notification on completion - Use macOS notifications for long-running compressions
- Delete original option - Add a flag to remove the source folder after successful archiving
- Batch processing - Handle multiple selected folders
Troubleshooting

“7z not found” error:
```
brew install p7zip
```
“External drive not found” error: Make sure your drive is connected and the path in EXTERNAL_DRIVE matches exactly. Check with:
```
ls -la /Volumes/YourDrive/YourFolder
```
Script doesn’t appear in Raycast: Refresh the script directory in Raycast Settings → Extensions → Script Commands → Reload All Scripts

Permission denied: Make sure the script is executable:
```
chmod +x your-script.sh
```
Conclusion

This Raycast script has saved me countless hours of manual file management. What used to be a multi-step process involving right-clicks, waiting, dragging, and renaming is now a single keyboard shortcut.

The beauty of Raycast’s script commands is that they’re just bash scripts with some metadata. If you know bash, you can automate almost anything on your Mac. This particular script demonstrates several useful patterns:
- Integrating with Finder via AppleScript
- Robust error handling
- Automatic file versioning
- User-friendly progress feedback
I encourage you to take this script and adapt it to your own workflow. Maybe you want to compress to Dropbox instead of an external drive. Maybe you want to add a timestamp to the filename. The flexibility is there, you just need to modify a few lines.

Happy automating!

Have questions or improvements? Feel free to reach out. If you build something cool with this pattern, I’d love to hear about it!
Oct 14, 2025 / DevOps / Programming

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The Password Paradox: When Security Becomes Absurdity

I created an account on VRBO today and was shocked by their password policy. A password with over 30 characters was flagged as “weak” simply because it didn’t contain special characters. We can do better than this.

This is the current state of digital security: passwords so complex that humans can’t remember them, pushing us all toward password managers (which, let’s be honest, we should be using). But here’s the thing - while there are some standards and best practices for password security, implementation is wildly inconsistent. Each business decides how much they want to enforce “good” password policies, and even when they try to follow security methodologies, the execution is all over the map.

You end up with systems that reject genuinely strong passwords while accepting demonstrably weak ones, all because someone’s algorithm prioritizes symbols over entropy.

It’s security theater at its finest.

FREE THE EMAILS AT MY blurgl blog

Aug 4, 2025 / Programming

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What you should start saying in Standup now

Aug 4, 2025 / DevOps / Programming
So the Gemini CLI...
Two minor gripes with the Gemini CLI tool. I know, I know … it just came out.
1. There’s no init command to automatically get it to generate its context file. I asked it to do it, and it created an empty file, and then I had to follow up with a second prompt to get it to update the file with helpful information. I’m never going to use that until it’s easier.
2. I ran a few prompts, and it automatically switched to the flash model, and there’s no way to control what model it uses. Like maybe I’m okay with a bit slower responses if it means I can use the pro-model. I’d like the ability to be able to control this, and there doesn’t seem to be a way to switch between the models.
Jun 26, 2025 / Programming

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I built a BlueSky Bot in 6 hours last week. I promise for good reasons.

TELL THE BOT THEY’RE DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB

It runs a query, does some analytics, then gives a progress update to socials.

Jun 25, 2025 / Programming
Before: 🔴 47 Dependabot PRs clogging my repo

After: 🟢 3 meaningful updates per week

The secret? One .github/dependabot.yml config to ignore patch updates while keeping security fixes.

Sometimes the best feature is the one that does less work 😌 #Productivity #GitHub #LessIsMore #JavaScript

Jun 10, 2025 / Programming
Claude Code is awesome. Junie is awesome. I want to try Claude Code GitHub Actions but its not included in the Max Plan. What Agents have been working well for you? #javascript #dev #webdev #fullstack

Jun 10, 2025 / Programming
Happy 30th Birthday to PHP! To celebrate, I updated my CodeIgniter project to the latest version, refactored a bunch of stuff. I added a reference implementation of Vue to it. Claude helped. 🎉

https://github.com/llbbl

Jun 8, 2025 / Programming
New release of pkglock-rust

🎉 New release of pkglock-rust crate is out! 🎉

This update brings:

✅ Unit testing for robust performance.

📂 Modularized code for better organization and maintainability.

Check out the latest version and give it a try: https://github.com/llbbl/pkglock-rust

pkglock was created to streamline switching between local and remote npm registries, addressing the slowness of npm installations and resolving transpiling issues by being rewritten in Rust.

#rustlang

Feb 11, 2025 / Programming

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🚀 Mastering Cloud Storage - Smmall Cloud vs. The Giants! 🚀

Just published a new Article!

Dive into my latest blog where I compare cutting-edge cloud storage solutions like Smmall Cloud, Dropshare, CleanShot X, and Google Drive. Discover which service truly stands out in the realm of digital storage efficiency and innovation.

🔑 Key Insights:

Smmall Cloud’s unique features and how it stacks up against established players.

The practicality and cost-effectiveness of each service.

An intriguing peek into building your own cloud storage!

🎁 Exclusive Bonus: Grab a 10% discount on any Smmall.cloud plan inside the article!

Don’t miss out on these vital insights that could transform your approach to digital storage. Click to read and find out which service fits your needs best!

👉 GitConnected

#CloudStorage #TechBlog #SmmallCloud #DigitalInnovation #StorageSolutions

Dec 18, 2023 / Productivity / Programming

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Launching My First Rust Crate: pkglock

Excited to share my first Rust crate: pkglock 🚀

pkglock is a CLI tool that automates the process of switching URLs in your package-lock.json. Tailored to ease the management of local and remote npm registries, it stands out as a handy utility for developers.

Key Features: Configurable: Set up and switch between local and remote URLs effortlessly. Command-Line Support: Execute with various options straight from the command line.

I rewrote it in rust to avoid having to transpile JS in order to support CommonJS and ESM.

Oct 30, 2023 / Programming

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Introducing pkglock: A Practical npm Utility

Hello Everyone! 🚀 I’m thrilled to say that I published my first npm package: Pkglock.

I made it to solve some minor inconveniences that developers might face.

The Problem

While working with npm packages, I found Verdaccio to be quite helpful. It’s a private npm proxy registry allowing for local caching of npm packages, substantially speeding up the npm installation process. However, the use of Verdaccio introduced a slight hiccup in collaboration. Since it relies on a local cache, the resulting package-lock.json file makes collaboration challenging, as not everyone has access to my private, local cache.

pkglock: A Simple Solution

Enter "pkglock". It’s a simple tool, nothing flashy, just a practical utility that addresses this issue by making it easier to switch between the public npm registry and a local cached npm registry. It’s about smoothing out the development workflow, ensuring that you can collaborate with others efficiently despite using a local cache like Verdaccio.

I’ll be writing a more detailed post on Medium soon, delving into the specifics, so keep an eye out for that if you’re interested in learning more.

Until then, Happy Coding! 🚀👨‍💻🚀

Oct 22, 2023 / Programming

Enjoyed this?

Programming

What We’re Building

Prerequisites

The Problem with the Built-in Approach

The Solution: AppleScript Integration

Building the Script

Key Features Explained

1. Finder Integration

2. Comprehensive Error Checking

3. Automatic Version Numbering

4. Progress Feedback

Setting It Up

Using It

Why 7zip Over Built-in Compression?

Potential Improvements

Troubleshooting

Conclusion

The Problem

pkglock: A Simple Solution