A comprehensive automation toolkit for managing macOS printers and CUPS queues directly through command-line interfaces.
Install & Download
1. ClawHub CLI
The fastest way to install a skill directly from the registry.
npx clawhub@latest install printer
2. Manual Installation
Copy the skill folder to one of these locations
~/.openclaw/skills/ <project>/skills/ Priority: Workspace > Local > Bundled
3. Prompt Installation
Copy this prompt to OpenClaw to install it automatically.
Help me install printer using Clawhub. If Clawhub is not installed, install it first (npm i -g clawhub).
Prefer to download?
Get the raw skill files in a ZIP archive.
What is Printer (CUPS)?
The Printer (CUPS) skill provides a professional-grade interface for interacting with the Common Unix Printing System on macOS. As a core part of the Openclaw Skills library, it allows AI agents to perform complex hardware management tasks without requiring a graphical user interface. By utilizing native binaries like lp, lpadmin, and ipptool, this skill bridges the gap between digital workflows and physical document production.
This skill is designed for developers and power users who need to automate document spooling, monitor hardware health, or configure network printers dynamically. It handles everything from initial device discovery via Bonjour and AirPrint to advanced diagnostics like SNMP toner level checks and IPP-based keep-alive heartbeats to prevent hardware hibernation.
Printer (CUPS) Use Cases
- Automating document printing workflows from localized data sources or scripts.
- Programmatic discovery and setup of driverless IPP Everywhere printers on a local network.
- Monitoring print job status and managing queues across multiple physical devices.
- Implementing keep-alive signals to ensure printers remain responsive for on-demand tasks.
- Troubleshooting connectivity issues and querying detailed hardware attributes via IPP and SNMP.
How Printer (CUPS) Works
- The skill initiates network discovery using dns-sd and lpstat to identify available Bonjour, AirPrint, and native CUPS destinations.
- Users or agents can add new printers using lpadmin with the everywhere model, ensuring driverless compatibility for modern network devices.
- Print jobs are dispatched to specific queues using the lp command, supporting various flags for duplexing, media size, and color modes.
- Real-time queue management is handled through lpstat and cancel commands to track or terminate active jobs.
- Detailed hardware diagnostics are performed using ipptool to query printer states and error logs, ensuring high reliability in automated environments.
Printer (CUPS) Setup
To utilize this skill within the Openclaw Skills ecosystem, ensure you are running macOS with the standard CUPS suite installed. Most features work out-of-the-box using built-in system tools.
# Verify required CUPS binaries are available
which lp lpstat lpadmin ipptool
# Optional: Install net-snmp via Homebrew for advanced toner monitoring
brew install net-snmp
Printer (CUPS) Data Schema & Taxonomy
The skill organizes printer data and system metadata using a structured approach based on CUPS standards:
| Component | Data Managed | Primary Command |
|---|---|---|
| Device Registry | Network URIs, backend schemes, and hardware paths | lpstat -v |
| Job Spooler | Active Job IDs, owner names, and timestamps | lpstat -o |
| Capability Map | Supported media, tray options, and resolution settings | lpoptions -l |
| Diagnostics | IPP attributes, supply levels, and error states | ipptool |
| System Defaults | Server-side and per-user default printer settings | lpadmin -d |
Printer (CUPS) Advanced Features
- Support for driverless IPP Everywhere configuration to eliminate the need for manual driver installation.
- Precise control over printing parameters including two-sided printing, grayscale, and custom media scaling.
- Diagnostic keep-alive polling using ipptool to wake devices from deep sleep states.
- SNMP walk integration for granular reporting on toner levels and internal hardware components.
- Direct access to CUPS server logs and detailed attribute testing for enterprise-level troubleshooting.
SKILL.md
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