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[Bug]: macOS: OpenScreen does not open while an Openscreen mcp stdio server is running #1214

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Description

@EtienneLescot

Platform: macOS 26.5 (M1), CI build of main @ 0bed36852 (run 38581408372, notarized DMG). Found during the e2e pass logged in #1212.

Repro

  1. Register the stdio server in an MCP client (/Applications/Openscreen.app/Contents/MacOS/Openscreen mcp) and keep its session open. For the strongest case, run one startRecording/stopRecording through it.
  2. Quit the OpenScreen app (the GUI), leaving the MCP client running.
  3. Open OpenScreen from Finder, the Dock or open /Applications/Openscreen.app.

Expected: the recording bar appears.

Actual: nothing opens. open exits 0 and no GUI process starts. With env flags, open prints "Application /Applications/Openscreen.app was already running". LaunchServices treats the mcp process (same bundle id) as the running app and activates it instead. lsappinfo showed that process as type="Foreground", in front, with its own OpenScreen icon in the Dock. A second mcp process that had not recorded was UIElement.

Impact: anyone using Claude Code or Codex with the stdio server cannot launch the app while the agent session is open. A Dock icon that does nothing is the only visible sign.

Workaround: open -n -a /Applications/Openscreen.app.

Likely direction: the mcp entry point should stay out of LaunchServices' "running app" slot. For example, keep it LSUIElement/prohibited activation, never transform it to a foreground app, even after it records. The CLI's record probably shares the same path.

Activity

  1. added a commit that references this issue on Oct 14, 2026
    394aebe
  2. added
    status: fixed in mainWork is merged into main but may not be in a downloadable release yet.
    status: pending releaseMerged change is waiting for a packaged desktop release.
    on Oct 14, 2026
  3. added this to the Next Release milestone on Oct 14, 2026
  4. github-actions commented on Oct 14, 2026

    @github-actions
    Contributor

    Fixed by #1228 and merged into main.

    This change is assigned to the Next Release release milestone and is not necessarily available in the latest downloadable desktop release yet. It is currently marked as status: pending release until a packaged release containing it is published.

  5. EtienneLescot commented on Oct 15, 2026

    @EtienneLescot
    MemberAuthor

    Moved into v2.1.0 as part of the pre-release cut.

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