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Overview

Productivity actions integrate with Apple Notes, Reminders, and Shortcuts to automate common tasks.
ActionDescriptionEnabled by Default
create_noteCreate a new note in Apple Notes✓
create_reminderCreate a reminder in Apple Reminders✓
run_shortcutRun an Apple Shortcut by name—

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create_note

Create a new note in Apple Notes (or via the memo CLI if installed).

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Parameters

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title
string
required
Note title
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body
string
Note body content (optional)
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folder
string
default:"Notes"
Target folder (defaults to “Notes”)

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Examples

rcli listen
# Say: "Create a note called Meeting Notes"
# Say: "Make a note: Buy groceries tomorrow"

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Implementation Details

The action first checks for the memo CLI tool (faster). If unavailable, it falls back to AppleScript:
tell application "Notes"
  tell folder "Notes"
    make new note with properties {name:"<title>", body:"<body>"}
  end tell
end tell
Source: src/actions/notes_actions.cpp:7-38

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Response

{
  "action": "create_note",
  "title": "Meeting Notes",
  "status": "created"
}

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create_reminder

Create a reminder in Apple Reminders with optional due date.

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Parameters

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title
string
required
Reminder text
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due
string
Due date (AppleScript date format, e.g., “tomorrow at 3pm” or “2025-03-15 14:00”)
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list
string
default:"Reminders"
Target list (defaults to “Reminders”)

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Examples

rcli listen
# Say: "Remind me to buy groceries"
# Say: "Set a reminder for the dentist appointment tomorrow at 2pm"

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Implementation Details

tell application "Reminders"
  tell list "Reminders"
    set r to make new reminder with properties {name:"<title>"}
    # If due date provided:
    # set r to make new reminder with properties {name:"<title>", due date:date "<due>"}
  end tell
end tell
Timeout: 20 seconds (Reminders.app can be slow to respond)Source: src/actions/reminders_actions.cpp:7-30

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Response

{
  "action": "create_reminder",
  "title": "Buy groceries",
  "status": "created"
}

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run_shortcut

Run an Apple Shortcut by name with optional input text.
Disabled by default. Enable in the Actions panel (press A in TUI) or via:
rcli action run_shortcut --enable

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Parameters

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name
string
required
Name of the shortcut (case-sensitive)
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input
string
Optional input text to pass to the shortcut

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Examples

rcli listen
# Say: "Run my Morning Routine shortcut"
# Say: "Execute the Log Weight shortcut with input 165"

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Implementation Details

Uses the shortcuts:// URL scheme:
std::string url = "shortcuts://run-shortcut?name=" + url_encode(name);
if (!input.empty()) {
    url += "&input=text&text=" + url_encode(input);
}
run_shell("open '" + escape_shell(url) + "'");
Note: Shortcuts.app must be installed and the shortcut must exist. The action returns immediately (does not wait for shortcut completion).Source: src/actions/communication_actions.cpp:62-72

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Response

{
  "action": "run_shortcut",
  "name": "Morning Routine"
}

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Voice Examples

Productivity actions work naturally with conversational input:
You: “Create a note called Sprint Planning”RCLI: “Done! Created a note called Sprint Planning.”You: “Add another note: Follow up with design team about mockups”RCLI: “Got it. Created a new note.”
You: “Remind me to submit the report by Friday at 5pm”RCLI: “Reminder created: Submit the report by Friday at 5pm.”You: “Also remind me to call the client tomorrow”RCLI: “Added a reminder to call the client tomorrow.”
You: “Run my Morning Routine shortcut”RCLI: “Running shortcut: Morning Routine.”You: “Execute the Log Workout shortcut with input Chest Day”RCLI: “Running Log Workout with input ‘Chest Day’.”

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Managing These Actions

See Managing Actions for details on enabling/disabling actions and persisting preferences. 
# List all productivity actions
rcli actions | grep productivity

# Enable run_shortcut
rcli action run_shortcut --enable

# Disable create_note
rcli action create_note --disable

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