Mac Programming: Command-TAB - How does this build the application list?

Question

I have a need to enumerate the applications that have "windows", "icons", whether if they are minimized to the dock or not. I need basically the list of applications that Command-TAB brings you. How do you do this programmatically?

Everything I tried gave me everything, or just the applications that are NOT minimized. Drives me nuts. Tried CGWindowListCopyWindowInfo, NSArray *runningApps = [workspace launchedApplications], but I can't get to the filtering of the list I need - whatever Cmd-TAB brings you.

Answer 1

You might try -[NSWorkspace runningApplications] which is available since 10.6. It gives the list of NSRunningApplication, whose properties can be inspected to some extent. I'm afraid it might not give you what you want, though.

Answer 2

This was asked and answered previously here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/945033/getting-the-list-of-running-applications-ordered-by-last-use