Our review
Creates macOS Calendar events with tiered sound alarms and paired Reminders to ensure notifications are never missed.
Strengths
- Uses long, distinct sounds for each reminder tier, recognizable by ear.
- Combines Calendar sound alarms with separate Reminders for redundancy.
- Automatically checks and guides notification settings to ensure alerts work.
Limitations
- Requires macOS and the Calendar app.
- Only works if system notifications are enabled.
- Predefined approved sounds list, no custom sounds.
Use this skill for important events where missing a reminder is critical (doctor appointments, key meetings, birthday parties).
Do not use for trivial or daily recurring events that don't warrant multiple sound reminders.
Security analysis
SafeThe skill only uses AppleScript to create local calendar events and reminders on macOS. It does not involve network access, data exfiltration, or destructive commands. The Bash tool is allowed but only used for harmless operations like opening system preferences. There is no risk of code injection or unauthorized access.
No concerns found
Examples
Add a birthday party for John on May 5 at 7 PM with RSVP and reminder sounds.Create a calendar event for dentist appointment tomorrow at 10 AM with tiered alarms and reminders.Schedule a project deadline meeting next Monday at 2 PM, 1 hour duration, with alarms and reminders.name: calendar-event-manager description: Create macOS Calendar events with sound alarms and paired Reminders. TRIGGERS - add event, calendar event, create reminder, birthday party, schedule event, RSVP, don't miss, set reminder allowed-tools: Bash, Read, AskUserQuestion
Calendar Event Manager
Create macOS Calendar events with tiered sound alarms and paired Reminders so events are never missed across Mac and iOS.
CRITICAL RULES (Hard-Learned Truths 2026-02-12)
These rules are NON-NEGOTIABLE. Violating any of them defeats the purpose of this skill.
1. Calendar + Reminders ALWAYS Together
Every event MUST create BOTH:
- Calendar event with multiple
sound alarmentries (custom sound per tier) - Reminders (3 minimum) as a separate notification channel
Never create one without the other.
2. Use sound alarm, NOT display alarm
-- CORRECT: audible alert with custom sound
make new sound alarm at end of sound alarms with properties {trigger interval:-60, sound name:"Glass"}
-- WRONG: silent visual banner only
make new display alarm at end of display alarms with properties {trigger interval:-60}
Each alarm supports its own sound name property. Use DIFFERENT sounds for different tiers so the user knows which alert level it is by sound alone.
3. ONLY Long Sounds (>= 1.4 seconds)
Short sounds get missed and ignored. NEVER use sounds under 1.4 seconds.
APPROVED sounds only:
| Sound | Duration | Use For | | --------- | -------- | ------------------------- | | Funk | 2.16s | At event time (loudest) | | Glass | 1.65s | 1 hour before | | Pop | 1.63s | Morning-of / 3 hrs before | | Sosumi | 1.54s | Day-before | | Ping | 1.50s | 30 min before | | Submarine | 1.49s | Alternative | | Blow | 1.40s | Gentle early reminder |
BANNED sounds: Hero, Basso, Bottle, Purr, Frog, Morse, Tink (all < 1.4s)
4. Multiple Early Reminders Are Mandatory
Minimum alarm tiers for any event:
| Tier | Trigger | Calendar Sound | Reminder | | --------------- | --------- | -------------- | ----------------- | | 1 day before | -1440 min | Blow | "TOMORROW: ..." | | Morning-of 9 AM | Absolute | Sosumi | "TODAY: ..." | | 3 hours before | -180 min | Pop | (via Calendar) | | 1 hour before | -60 min | Glass | (via Calendar) | | 30 min before | -30 min | Ping | (via Calendar) | | At event time | 0 min | Funk | Due-time reminder |
5. macOS Notification Settings Prerequisite
Calendar notifications must be enabled in System Settings:
- System Settings > Notifications > Calendar > Allow Notifications = ON
- Alert style = Banners or Alerts
- Play sound = ON
Open with: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Notifications-Settings.extension"
TodoWrite Task Templates
Template A: Create Event from Invitation
1. Extract event details (title, date, time, location, notes, RSVP)
2. Create Calendar event with 6-tier sound alarms (Blow, Sosumi, Pop, Glass, Ping, Funk)
3. Create 3 Reminders (TOMORROW, TODAY morning, due-time)
4. Verify event and reminders created
5. Report full schedule to user
Template B: Create Event from User Description
1. Ask user for: event name, date/time, duration, location
2. Create Calendar event with 6-tier sound alarms
3. Create 3 Reminders
4. Verify event and reminders created
5. Report full schedule to user
Template C: Test Notification Setup
1. Create test Calendar event 3 min in future with sound alarms (1 min, 2 min tiers)
2. Create test Reminder 2 min in future
3. Wait for user confirmation of notifications
4. Clean up test event and reminders
AppleScript Patterns
Full Event Creation (Copy-Paste Ready)
tell application "Calendar"
tell calendar "Calendar"
set newEvent to make new event with properties {summary:"EVENT_NAME", start date:date "DATE_STRING", end date:date "DATE_STRING", location:"LOCATION", description:"NOTES"}
tell newEvent
-- 1 day before: gentle
make new sound alarm at end of sound alarms with properties {trigger interval:-1440, sound name:"Blow"}
-- 3 hours before: noticeable
make new sound alarm at end of sound alarms with properties {trigger interval:-180, sound name:"Pop"}
-- 1 hour before: clear
make new sound alarm at end of sound alarms with properties {trigger interval:-60, sound name:"Glass"}
-- 30 min before: time to go
make new sound alarm at end of sound alarms with properties {trigger interval:-30, sound name:"Ping"}
-- At event time: loudest
make new sound alarm at end of sound alarms with properties {trigger interval:0, sound name:"Funk"}
end tell
end tell
reload calendars
end tell
Paired Reminders Creation
tell application "Reminders"
set defaultList to default list
-- Due-time reminder
make new reminder in defaultList with properties {name:"EVENT_NAME", due date:EVENT_DATE, body:"LOCATION\nNOTES"}
-- Day-before
make new reminder in defaultList with properties {name:"TOMORROW: EVENT_NAME", due date:(EVENT_DATE - 1 * days), body:"Event tomorrow! LOCATION"}
-- Morning-of at 9 AM
set morningDate to date "DATE_STRING"
set time of morningDate to 9 * hours
make new reminder in defaultList with properties {name:"TODAY: EVENT_NAME", due date:morningDate, body:"Today! LOCATION"}
end tell
Post-Change Checklist
After modifying this skill:
- [ ] Sound reference table matches sound-reference.md
- [ ] All 6 alarm tiers documented with correct sounds
- [ ] BANNED sounds list is complete
- [ ] Hook file (
hooks/calendar-reminder-sync.ts) aligned with skill rules - [ ] AppleScript examples use
sound alarmnotdisplay alarm
References
- Sound Reference - Full sound duration data and approved/rejected lists
- Apple Calendar Scripting Guide
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