Opening Applications From The Terminal

The command is simply open (which can also be used for opening directories). The most basic example of launching an application: open /path/to/some.app More complex possibilities also exist: open "/Volumes/Macintosh HD/foo.txt" opens the document in the default application for its type (as determined by LaunchServices). open /Applications/ opens that directory in the Finder. open -a /Applications/TextEdit.app "/Volumes/Macintosh HD/foo.txt" opens the document in the application specified (in this case, TextEdit). open -e "/Volumes/Macintosh HD/foo.txt" opens the document in TextEdit (the -e option specifies TextEdit). open http://www.apple.com/ opens the URL in the default browser (lynx, naturally *wink*) open "file://localhost/Volumes/Macintosh HD/foo.txt" opens the document in the default application for its type (as determined by LaunchServices). open "file://localhost/Volumes/Macintosh HD/Applications/" opens that directory in the Finder.