chore: new blog post 9e7c6b86
Steve · 2026-06-01 08:28 5 file(s) · +37 −2
.sequoia-state.json +8 −2
109 109 
      "slug": "resurrect-the-old-web"
110 110 
    },
111 111 
    "src/content/post/when-ai-gives-the-ick.mdx": {
112 - 
      "contentHash": "b30b5712a9b5783844f5ae7f2a7a3aa21f8e61185f6545fba96e463ead042816",
112 + 
      "contentHash": "6c8cec72f93d9cc10c98c8741fdd7a1b5c8a40f79f2ac5821f6a0e636267ec7c",
113 113 
      "atUri": "at://did:plc:ia2zdnhjaokf5lazhxrmj6eu/site.standard.document/3mdzvuq2x752v",
114 - 
      "lastPublished": "2025-10-03T04:00:00.000Z",
114 + 
      "lastPublished": "2026-06-01T12:28:34.949Z",
115 115 
      "slug": "when-ai-gives-the-ick"
116 116 
    },
117 117 
    "src/content/post/programming-bowls.mdx": {
185 185 
      "atUri": "at://did:plc:ia2zdnhjaokf5lazhxrmj6eu/site.standard.document/3mmk4tz57tk2q",
186 186 
      "lastPublished": "2026-05-23T18:56:28.526Z",
187 187 
      "slug": "how-to-hate-ai"
188 + 
    },
189 + 
    "src/content/post/api-calls-in-ios-shortcuts.mdx": {
190 + 
      "contentHash": "27c1dd88f40d25f3b717389708b44691e4cf777dfd6c5eec958a9538c961b102",
191 + 
      "atUri": "at://did:plc:ia2zdnhjaokf5lazhxrmj6eu/site.standard.document/3mna3eogq3c2y",
192 + 
      "lastPublished": "2026-06-01T12:28:34.548Z",
193 + 
      "slug": "api-calls-in-ios-shortcuts"
188 194 
    }
189 195 
  }
190 196 
}
src/assets/blog-images/add-feeds-shortcut.png (added) +0 −0

Binary file — no preview.

src/assets/blog-images/get-contents-discover.png (added) +0 −0

Binary file — no preview.

src/assets/blog-images/get-contents-of-url.png (added) +0 −0

Binary file — no preview.

src/content/post/api-calls-in-ios-shortcuts.mdx (added) +29 −0
1 + 
---
2 + 
title: "API Calls in iOS Shortcuts"
3 + 
publishDate: "2026-06-01T11:36:40Z"
4 + 
description: "A small fun fact for iOS and MacOS automations"
5 + 
tags: ["programming", "developer tools"]
6 + 
ogImage: "../../assets/blog-images/get-contents-of-url.png"
7 + 
hidden: false
8 + 
atUri: "at://did:plc:ia2zdnhjaokf5lazhxrmj6eu/site.standard.document/3mna3eogq3c2y"
9 + 
---
10 + 

            

            
            

                
                11
                +
                
![info for get contents of url](../../assets/blog-images/get-contents-of-url.png)

            

            
            

                
                12
                +
                

            

            
            

                
                13
                +
                
Something I discovered several years ago, that I'm now realizing may not be popular knowledge, is that iOS shortcuts has the ability to make API calls. The action is called `Get Contents of URL`. It's a bit deceiving because it sounds like it only does `GET` requests, but in reality it can also do `POST`, `PUT`, `PATCH`, `DELETE`, along with JSON, Form, or File request bodies, and headers! Combining this with existing iOS shortcut actions make it a pretty powerful tool, and it's something I use with my apps pretty regularly. Here's an example flow for adding a new RSS feed to my aggregator: 

            

            
            

                
                14
                +
                

            

            
            

                
                15
                +
                
![add feeds shortcut](../../assets/blog-images/add-feeds-shortcut.png)

            

            
            

                
                16
                +
                

            

            
            

                
                17
                +
                
1. Grabs input from the clipboard (this could also be a sharesheet, very handy for iOS)

            

            
            

                
                18
                +
                
2. Gets the RSS feeds for a given URL

            

            
            

                
                19
                +
                
3. Gets the name of the website 

            

            
            

                
                20
                +
                
4. Sends an API call to my aggregator with authorization headers and JSON body with the variables listed in 2 and 3

            

            
            

                
                21
                +
                
5. Shows the response of the API call

            

            
            

                
                22
                +
                

            

            
            

                
                23
                +
                
By using the Sharesheet input instead of clipboard I can easily click the Share button in any app then select "Add Feed" to subscribe via RSS; love it!

            

            
            

                
                24
                +
                

            

            
            

                
                25
                +
                
There are many other scripting tools inside the Shortcuts app that can be used to build more complex flows. While it doesn't support JSON parsing out of the box, the `Choose From List` can be used to filter through objects and arrays to narrow down selected pieces of data. Sometimes the Shortcuts action for getting an RSS feed doesn't work well, so I use my own built in endpoint to discover feeds on any given URL. 

            

            
            

                
                26
                +
                

            

            
            

                
                27
                +
                
![discover rss feeds shortcut](../../assets/blog-images/get-contents-discover.png)

            

            
            

                
                28
                +
                

            

            
            

                
                29
                +
                
This really is just the tip of the iceberg. Even while writing this post I found some other intriguing actions like running javascript, scripts over SSH, even generate QR codes! Would highly recommend exploring Shortcuts to anyone on iOS or MacOS. These little scripting tools are fun to play with and in a way help exercise our brains to do more problem solving.