clipboard

Read and write the macOS clipboard using pbcopy and pbpaste.

34|5|Updated Feb 6, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/linanwx/nagobot --skill clipboard-linanwx
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: clipboard
Source: https://github.com/linanwx/nagobot/tree/main/cmd/templates/skills/clipboard
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/linanwx/nagobot --skill clipboard-linanwx

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Read and write the macOS system clipboard using pbcopy and pbpaste.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Read clipboard contents with pbpaste
  • Write text to clipboard with pbcopy
  • Pipe clipboard data between tools and scripts
  • Copy images to clipboard using AppleScript (for macOS)

Quick Start

Run pbpaste to read the clipboard or pbcopy to write to it.

Frequently Asked Questions about clipboard

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I automate reading and writing to the macOS clipboard in scripts?

You can automate macOS clipboard tasks by using pbpaste to read clipboard contents and pbcopy to write text, enabling piped data transfers between command-line tools and scripts.

Can I copy command outputs directly to the macOS clipboard?

Yes, you can copy command outputs to the macOS clipboard by piping the output of your command directly into pbcopy, making the text immediately available for pasting into other applications.

Does macOS clipboard automation support copying image data?

Clipboard automation on macOS supports copying image data by utilizing optional AppleScript commands alongside the standard pbcopy and pbpaste utilities for handling images.

What do I need to use pbcopy and pbpaste for clipboard automation?

You need a macOS environment with native pbcopy and pbpaste utilities installed, and optionally AppleScript if your clipboard workflows require transferring image data between applications.

Why use pbcopy and pbpaste instead of other clipboard management approaches?

Using pbcopy and pbpaste provides a native, scriptable way to pipe clipboard data directly between command-line tools on macOS without requiring additional GUI-based clipboard management software.

Are there limitations when using pbcopy for macOS clipboard workflows?

The main limitation is that pbcopy and pbpaste are macOS-native utilities, meaning these clipboard automation workflows are restricted to the macOS environment and rely on AppleScript for image data.