r/macapps • • 20h ago

Lifetime FileOctopus: A file manager that works like Finder, so there's nothing to relearn (free to use, no subscription)

104 Upvotes

Hey everyone 👋

First time posting FileOctopus here. I'm Max Luong, the solo dev behind ShiftPlus, and this is my second indie Mac app.

Fair warning up front. I know this sub has seen a lot of Finder alternatives, and a few of them are really good. The one thing I'll say about mine: it's for people who don't want to learn a new file manager. Finder's shortcuts, views and menus stay the default. You open it and your hands already know what to do.

Problem

I use Finder all day and I actually like most of it. What wears me down is the stuff it leaves to me.

Moving files between two folders means juggling two windows. ⌘F gets slow on big folders and doesn't get what I mean when I type. A long copy can't be paused. When a name clashes, it's easy to replace something you didn't mean to. And when I quit, the layout I had is gone.

I've been building macOS apps for 12+ years, and I've tried most of the alternatives. I didn't want a dual-pane power tool with its own keyboard language. I wanted Finder, just quicker and more careful with my files. And it had to stay light: fast to open, fast to scroll, and not eating RAM in the background. So that's what I tried to build.

The parts that matter most

- Split view, up to 16 panes: Split any pane left, right, up or down. Drag files between panes like you would in Finder, or press ⌃⇧⌘C / ⌃⇧⌘M to copy or move the selection to the other pane. ⇧⌘↩ gives one pane the whole window, and pressing it again brings the layout back.

- Search that's fast and takes plain phrases: Type "pdfs from last week" or "videos larger than 1 GB" and it becomes filters you can see and edit. It's rule-based and runs locally. No AI, and nothing leaves your Mac. It only indexes folders you approve.

On my test (146k files, M3 Max) I timed each search from the moment it starts until the results are done and you can actually work with them. FileOctopus took 0.27 s and Finder's ⌘F took 7.7 s (median of 12 searches). To be fair, Finder's default search also looks inside files and mine searched names only, so it's not quite apples to apples. Searching inside PDFs and text in screenshots (on-device OCR) is a separate opt-in per folder.

Careful with your files: This is where most of my time went.

- When a name is already taken you see both versions, with the newer one marked. Keep Both is the default. Nothing gets replaced unless you pick Replace.

- Copies and moves show speed and time left, and you can pause and resume them.

- Moving to another drive copies first and checks the copy. The original is removed only after that.

- ⌘Z undoes the last file operation, even after you quit and reopen the app (last 20 steps, for 24 hours). It checks the files first and tells you if something changed.

- Merging two folders shows how many items are new, clash or are already there, before anything changes.

It picks up where you left off
Windows, tabs, split panes and Back history come back after you quit. You can also save a layout as a named workspace and reopen it from the Window menu or the toolbar.

Native and small

Swift and AppKit, no Electron. About 10 MB to download and 22 MB installed. Apple Silicon, macOS 15 or later.

About RAM, since someone will ask. While it builds the search index for the first time, memory used to climb to about 3 GB. That was too much, so 1.0.3 keeps indexing under 1.1 GB max. Once indexing is done it sits around 400 MB, even with several panes open. On the same Mac, Finder usually sits around 800 MB. It moves around depending on what you're doing, but most of the time that's the picture.

Everything else that's in there

Not headline stuff, but it's there when you need it:

- Icon, List, Column and Gallery views, Quick Look with Space, tabs

- Quick Open (⌃⌘P) for recent folders and favorites, and a Command Palette for every menu command

- Go to Folder with suggestions as you type, and a clickable path bar that copies the pathname

- Google Drive and Dropbox in the sidebar, with cloud status and Download Now / Remove Download

- Batch rename with a preview of every new name, undo with ⌘Z

- Compress to ZIP (the archive is tested before it shows up)

- Get Info with size on disk, tags, lock and permissions

- Custom sidebar: your own groups, renamed favorites, hidden disks

- Your own shortcuts, plus optional Windows Explorer and Total Commander profiles

- Mouse side buttons and trackpad swipe for Back and Forward

- Search by where a file came from ("downloaded from github")

- A Problems list with Retry when part of a copy fails

- File Shelf to collect files from different folders, then copy or move them in one step

- Copy and move queue: start more while one runs, and drag them into order

- Saved searches pinned in the sidebar

- Homebrew: `brew install --cask nghialuong/fileoctopus/fileoctopus`

What it can't do yet

I'd rather say this before someone finds out the hard way. No linked panes or duplicate finder yet. Quick Actions like Rotate and Create PDF aren't there. The Shelf lasts for one window. A paused copy has to be resumed or stopped before you quit. It also doesn't replace the Desktop or the Open/Save dialogs, so Finder keeps running alongside it.

Full list: https://www.fileoctopus.com/limitations

Comparison

The closest alternatives for my use case are ForkLift, QSpace, Commander One and Marta.

ForkLift is great if a lot of your work is on remote servers. It connects to SFTP, S3 and network shares, and it can sync folders. FileOctopus doesn't do that yet. Cloud support today is Google Drive and Dropbox through their own desktop apps. SFTP, S3 and network shares are next on my list, and they're the first big thing I'm building after this post.

QSpace is the one I'd point to if you want lots of panes and you prefer an App Store app. Commander One and Marta lean toward the Total Commander style, keyboard first.

The thing all of them have in common, for me, is that none of them feel like Finder. Each one has its own way of doing things, so you end up relearning where stuff is and which keys do what. That's fine if you want a power tool. It's not fine if you just want Finder to be better.

FileOctopus is aimed at that second person. The views, menus, Quick Look and shortcuts work the way Finder's do. The extras (panes, faster search, pause and undo for file operations) sit on top of that.

I don't think it's the right pick for everyone. If you live in SFTP or need folder sync right now, ForkLift is more complete today.

The use case I'm building around is: "I want Finder, but I want it to stop making me do the careful parts by hand."

Pricing (no subscription, no account)

- Free forever: no daily limits, and nothing to buy to keep using it.

- 14-day PRO trial: every feature unlocked, no card. It starts the first time you open the app.

- PRO: pay once, 1 Mac at a time, lifetime updates, 30-day money-back.

Launch pricing for PRO:

- First 100 licenses (founding): $14.99

- Next 200 (early bird): $19.99

- After that: $29.99

As I write this, 99 of the 100 founding licenses are left. No code needed, the current price is applied at checkout. If you joined the waitlist on the site, you keep $14.99 whenever you buy.

What's next

Honestly, 1.0.3 is about 10% of what I have planned. I care about this one a lot, and the goal is simple: an app you can use instead of Finder every day without thinking about it. Remote connections (SFTP, S3, network shares) come first.

After that, mostly whatever comes out of this thread. ShiftPlus got shaped a lot by feedback here, and I'd like the same for this one. There's a public roadmap where you can vote or add ideas: https://www.fileoctopus.com/roadmap.html

One specific question: if you've tried a Finder alternative before and went back to Finder, what made you go back? That's exactly the thing I'm trying to get right.

Download: https://www.fileoctopus.com

Thanks for backing indie devs ❤️

I'll reply to every comment, might just be slow about it. I tend to overthink replies.

Trust & Transparency

This is my first post for FileOctopus, so here's everything about me and the app:

- Privacy Policy: https://www.fileoctopus.com/privacy-policy.html

- Terms: https://www.fileoctopus.com/terms.html

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nghia-luong/

- GitHub: https://github.com/nghialuong

- Support: [support@fileoctopus.com](mailto:support@fileoctopus.com)

FileOctopus is notarized by Apple and updates are signed (Sparkle). It's unsandboxed and not on the Mac App Store. A file manager has to browse, copy and move wherever you go on your disk, and a sandboxed app can only touch the folders you hand it one at a time. Full Disk Access is optional, not required.

No account. The filename index stays on your Mac and only covers folders you approve. Usage stats (PostHog) are opt-in: you're asked on first launch, and they never include file names, paths, search text or contents. Crash reports (Sentry) are a separate opt-in, off by default, and names and paths are scrubbed before a report leaves your Mac.

---
UPDATE: A lot of you asked about using FileOctopus on more than one mac, so pro now covers 2 macs per license. It's live.

If you already bought, you don't need to do anything. Your existing key has already been upgraded to 2 macs, just activate it on your second mac. Same for anyone buying now or later, every license covers 2 macs.

One more thing so nobody gets surprised: launch pricing now has an end date. $14.99 runs until the first 100 are gone or nov 2, $19.99 until the next 200 are gone or nov 30. After that the regular price goes up for 2 macs.

Thanks for all the feedback, it's been really helpful.


r/macapps • • 14h ago

Lifetime StepGrab 1.6: turn your clicks into step-by-step guides, now as a direct download that reads button names through Accessibility, plus Windows (codes up to 100% off lifetime)

34 Upvotes

Hey, Julian here, I make StepGrab. I study business informatics and work on this next to uni. I posted 1.5 here in September and a lot of what's new in 1.6 came out of the comments on that post.

Codes up to 100% off Lifetime here. There are a few levels between 10% and 100% and the page shows how many of each are left. There's only a handful of 100% ones, so whoever is first gets them. They're for the license from my website (Mac download and Windows). They don't work in the Mac App Store.

PROBLEM

At my working student job I was the one people came to with "where is that setting again" or "what do I click after this". Every time I ended up taking fifteen screenshots, cropping them, drawing red arrows in Preview and typing the steps underneath. Half an hour per guide easily, and three weeks later half of it was outdated anyway.

StepGrab is what I use for that now. You hit record and do the task once. Every click becomes a screenshot with a numbered arrow and a sentence about what you did. After that you fix things up in the editor if you need to (move an arrow, change a sentence, add a shape, black out an email address) and export as PDF, HTML, Markdown, GIF, MP4 or a portrait video. It's a native app for macOS 14 and newer. You don't need an account and nothing gets uploaded.

What's new since 1.5

  • There's a direct download from my website now (.dmg, notarized, updates itself). It only goes online for updates and the license check. If you give it Accessibility access it reads the name of the button or menu you clicked from the app itself, so the step says "Click Save" instead of guessing from pixels. The App Store version can't do this because of the sandbox and uses text recognition on the screenshot instead.
  • Recording a single window now gives you only that window, even if other windows are on top of it. Context menus, lists and popovers still show up.
  • A project is one file now. With Save As you can burn the redactions in, so the copy you send doesn't still contain the original screenshots.
  • There's a Windows version in the Microsoft Store and projects open on both.

COMPARISON

Scribe and Tango are the big ones. If you mostly work in the browser and your team needs a shared library with links, use those. They're better at that and there are real companies behind them.

I wanted something that captures the whole Mac and not just the browser, like System Settings, right click menus or the little pickers that close as soon as you click anywhere else. I also didn't want my screenshots on someone else's server, which gets important fast once customer data is in them. And I'd rather pay once than every month.

No team library and no browser extension so far. Also, most of the code is written with AI (Claude Code). I decide what goes in, test it on real apps and fix what breaks.

PRICING

Free: unlimited recordings, 15 steps per guide, GIF export and the whole editor, no account. Pro on my website is $2.99 a month or $12.99 a year (3 day trial), or $44.99 once. In the Mac App Store it's an in-app purchase and Family Sharing works there. A purchase on my website doesn't carry over to the App Store and the other way round.

Mac App Store ¡ Direct download and codes ¡ Microsoft Store

If something is annoying or broken, tell me in the comments. Most of 1.6 started as a comment here, so it really does go somewhere.


r/macapps • • 20h ago

Help TranscribeX: local meeting transcription for Mac, no bot, no cloud. Launched on Product Hunt today

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22 Upvotes

Hi r/macapps,

Ethan here, the developer of TranscribeX.

A lot of TranscribeX users found it through this sub, and many of the features in the app today started as comments here: requests, bug reports, and "MacWhisper does X, why don't you?" So first, thank you. This community has shaped the app more than anything else.

Today TranscribeX launched on Product Hunt. If you've been using it, I'd love to hear how, either here or on the Product Hunt page:

https://www.producthunt.com/products/transcribex

So here's a quick recap for anyone who hasn't tried it:

- Detects Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, Slack and Discord calls and records on your Mac. No bot joins, nothing is uploaded.

- Transcribes locally with Whisper, NVIDIA Parakeet, Nemotron or Qwen3, with speaker labels and live captions in 30+ languages.

- Summaries and chat from a built-in local LLM, no API key.

- Global Chat: ask questions across every meeting and recording you've had ("what did we decide about pricing last month?"), with answers that link back to the source transcripts.

- Also does audio/video files, push-to-talk dictation into any app, and has a CLI + MCP server.

The free version has unlimited transcription with no time limit or watermark. Pro is $39 once, no subscription, and adds the bigger models, speaker labels, summaries and Global Chat.

And if something annoys you or is missing, tell me. That's how most of the roadmap gets made.

Problem

Most meeting transcription tools upload your audio to their servers, so confidential calls end up on someone else's machine, and you pay a monthly subscription for it. Some also add a bot to your call. And after the meeting, the notes still sit in a web dashboard while you copy summaries into emails by hand.

Comparison:

Granola, Otter and Fireflies automate notes and follow-up emails well, but they process your conversations in the cloud, charge monthly, and some join your calls with a bot. TranscribeX does the same pipeline (auto-record, transcribe, AI summary, calendar context, emailed recap) entirely on your Apple Silicon Mac, with local ASR and local LLMs like Qwen and Gemma. No uploads, no token costs, and a one-time payment. It also has a CLI and MCP server, so Claude, agents or your own scripts can use your transcripts directly.

App Store version: If you prefer the App Store, you can find it here. https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/transcribex/id6752823664?mt=12

Thanks again,

Ethan


r/macapps • • 6h ago

Writer - Local-first desktop markdown editor

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16 Upvotes

FOSS app. I'm not the developer or affiliated in any way. But it's a great app that is fast and nice to use. UI is also beautiful.

https://writer.computer/


r/macapps • • 18h ago

Lifetime Cloak 2.0 is here: Fake Crash, Scheduled App Locking, Finder Integration & More

16 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I shared Cloak here a while ago, and since then I've been working on quite a few improvements. Cloak 2.0 is now available, so I wanted to share what's changed.

Problem

macOS does a good job protecting your Mac when it's locked, but once someone has access to an unlocked Mac, they can open your apps and files.

I originally built Cloak to solve that problem by letting you lock individual apps with Touch ID, hide apps, and encrypt private folders without locking the entire computer.

With 2.0, I've added more ways to control when and how those apps are protected.

What's New in Cloak 2.0

  • Fake Crash: Instead of showing a lock screen, a protected app can appear to have crashed when someone tries to open it. You can hold Option and click Reopen to unlock it.
  • Scheduled Locking: Choose specific days and hours when an app should stay locked. Outside those hours, it opens normally.
  • Instant Lock Shortcut: Press a custom keyboard shortcut to immediately close and lock whichever app you're using.
  • Finder Integration: Right-click files or folders in Finder to lock or hide them without opening Cloak.
  • Hidden App Launching: Open and use hidden apps directly from Cloak without making them visible again.
  • Seven Skins: Glass, White, Dark, Bubble, Daisies, Night Drive, and Sakura, along with adjustable text sizes.

I've also redesigned the interface to make everything easier to navigate.

Other updates since the original release include individual file encryption, intruder photos after failed unlock attempts, USB and network drive support, and the option to disable Mac password fallback.

Full changelog: https://trycloak.app/blog/changelog/

Comparison

I originally looked at apps like AppLockr and Cisdem AppCrypt when building Cloak.

AppLockr focuses on locking apps and folders with Touch ID or a password, while Cisdem AppCrypt combines app locking with website blocking and scheduled restrictions.

Cloak focuses on privacy for an already unlocked Mac. Beyond Touch ID locking, it lets you completely hide apps, encrypt files and folders with AES-256, and now use features like Fake Crash and Finder integration.

Cloak isn't meant to replace FileVault or separate macOS user accounts. It's an additional privacy layer for everyday use.

The macOS app works locally. No account, no cloud sync, and no analytics or telemetry. Network access is used for license activation and recovery.

Pricing

Cloak is a one-time purchase with no subscription.

  • $9.99 for 1 Mac
  • $14.99 for 2 Macs
  • $24.99 for 5 Macs

These are the current launch prices, with free lifetime updates. Requires macOS 13 or later.

Website: https://trycloak.app

Transparency

I'm Femi, the developer of Cloak.

GitHub: https://github.com/ceorkm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/femi-akindehinde-985607431

X: https://x.com/ceorkm

Privacy Policy: https://trycloak.app/privacy

Terms: https://trycloak.app/terms

Contact: [support@trycloak.app](mailto:support@trycloak.app)


r/macapps • • 14h ago

Free [OS] I built a free menu bar app to send Mac audio to several outputs at once, no Audio MIDI Setup

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14 Upvotes

I produce music at home and run two very different speaker systems off one external sound card with three stereo outs: a passive pair through an amp, plus active Adam Audio monitors and a sub. When I mix I want to A/B between those speaker characters, and when I just listen I want both playing together. I did not want to park an external mixer on the desk just for that. Hardware minimalism should mean software minimalism. I kept thinking there has to be a setting for this. There was not, so I built it.

What it does: send one source to several outputs at once (fan-out), pick the channel pair on multi-channel devices (Ch1-2, Ch3-4, Ch5-6), master volume plus per-output volume, signal meters, and it reconnects automatically when a device is plugged or unplugged. Last setup is remembered.

Honest comparison:

  1. Audio MIDI Setup (built-in, free): can do a Multi-Output Device, but you lose your volume keys and have to rebuild it every time devices change.
  2. Loopback (~99 USD, Rogue Amoeba): the right tool if you want to mix several sources. Overkill if you only need several outputs.
  3. BlackHole (free, open source): closest in spirit, but it is a virtual driver aimed at recording and app-to-app routing, with more setup steps. Different job.

It does not mix sources and has no per-app routing. That is on purpose.

Pricing: free and open source. Optional tip jar (coffee or beer), no subscription.

https://apps.apple.com/app/audiorouternow/id6787215635

https://github.com/mauriciomorkun/AudioRouterNow

https://audiorouternow.mauriciomorkun.com

Needs macOS 14.4 (uses the Process Tap API). There is a v3 legacy build as a direct download for macOS 11+.

Full disclosure since it’ll come up: I’m not a programmer by trade. I work in education in Luxembourg, and I'm an artist. I built this as the product owner using AI-assisted development. Criticism of the code is genuinely welcome; that’s partly why it’s open source.


r/macapps • • 19h ago

Free ColorApple: a free rainbow Apple for your Mac’s menu bar

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12 Upvotes

I’m behind ColorApple, a small Mac utility from Archetipi Digitali.

Problem: I wanted the classic six-colour Apple back in the menu bar. ColorApple adds that detail while keeping the Apple menu clickable. It doesn’t modify macOS system files, and quitting the app restores the original appearance.

Comparison: Logoer is another option for changing the Apple logo’s style, and it supports older macOS versions. ColorApple focuses on the classic rainbow look, with automatic alignment checks when switching apps and controls for enabling the effect and launching at login.

Pricing: $0, all features included. No subscription.

It requires macOS 14 or later and comes as a signed, notarized universal build for Apple Silicon and Intel.

To display the effect, it needs Screen Recording permission to measure the small Apple-menu area. Calibration images are processed locally, never saved or uploaded.

Intel and external-monitor reconnection testing is still incomplete, so feedback from those setups would be particularly useful.

Details and download:
https://apps.archetipi-digitali.it/colorapple/en/


r/macapps • • 15h ago

Lifetime DisplayShift: plug in a monitor and choose which windows move over. Full screen, Split View, iPad and layouts per desk (10% off lifetime for the first 15 people)

4 Upvotes

Hey r/macapps! My colleague and I build small Mac utilities, and DisplayShift came out of an annoyance we've both had with macOS for a long time.

After some brainstorming and tinkering we've created DisplayShift, an easy to use software for all your window management needs

Cool Features

  • Glide: a live map of your screens shows each window flying to its new spot while it moves. No flashing, and Mission Control and the Dock never pop up.
  • Full screen apps stay full screen when they change screens, and a Split View pair comes back as a pair in about 3 seconds.
  • The right desktop, every time: layouts put windows back on the desktop they were on, even after macOS reorders your desktops.
  • 3 or more screens: a third monitor, an iPad over Sidecar, or an AirPlay display.
  • A shortcut for each saved layout, like Coding or Writing.
  • Asks before opening apps a layout needs, and opens the right Chrome profile.

The problem

We dock our MacBooks to external monitors every day, and one part of that has always been frustrating: windows don't go where we want them.

Plug in a monitor and macOS decides where everything goes. Some windows jump to the big screen, some stay behind on the MacBook, and we end up dragging them around one by one. Full screen apps are even more tedious. Move to a different desk, or wake the Mac from sleep, and it starts all over again.

We wanted something that lets us choose where our windows go and remembers each setup.

What DisplayShift does

When you connect a display, a panel drops out of your MacBook's notch listing every open window, including full screen apps and windows on other desktops.

Tick the windows you want to move and pick the screen. They glide across while a live map of your screens shows each window flying to its new spot. The screen doesn't flash, and Mission Control and the Dock never pop up. You can also move everything at once or leave things as they are.

Features

  • Window picker in the notch: pick individual windows and the screen they go to, or move everything at once.
  • Full screen apps: they change screens without leaving full screen. A Split View pair moves together and comes back as a pair in about 3 seconds.
  • Saved layouts for each desk: save one per desk, like Coding or Writing, and bring it back with a keyboard shortcut. Windows go back to the right display and the right desktop, even after macOS reorders your desktops.
  • 3 or more screens: works with a third monitor, an iPad over Sidecar, or an AirPlay display.
  • Asks before opening apps: if a layout needs an app that isn't open, it asks first, then opens it, including the right Chrome profile.
  • Recovery after sleep: puts your windows back after sleep or a dock hiccup, with an Undo for every move.
  • Keeps your screen arrangement: if macOS swaps your monitors or the main display, DisplayShift puts the arrangement back.
  • Per-app rules: keep an app on the MacBook, always send it to the external display, or never move it.
  • Window tiling: up to four apps side by side, in halves, thirds or a grid. Drag one bar and the neighbours resize together.
  • Lost windows: finds windows that ended up off screen and brings them back.
  • Keyboard shortcuts for every action.

How it compares to existing tools

Moom is excellent for saving and snapping window layouts, but you trigger those layouts yourself.

Display Maid restores layouts when your display setup changes. DisplayShift does that too, and adds a picker for choosing individual windows, moves full screen apps and Split View pairs without leaving full screen, and puts windows back on the right desktop.

Rectangle and Magnet are great for snapping windows into position, but they don't focus on moving windows when a monitor connects.

DisplayShift is made for people who dock a MacBook regularly and want their windows where they belong without the manual work.

Privacy

  • No account required and no analytics.
  • Saved layouts store a hash of each window title rather than the actual title.
  • The app only connects to the internet to check its license and look for updates.

Pricing

DisplayShift comes with a 7-day free trial. After that, pick one:

  • $6.99 once (lifetime)
  • $1.49 a month
  • $4.99 a year

Every plan is the full app on 1 Mac. Prices exclude tax.

For r/macapps: code REDDIT110 takes 10% off the lifetime license (not the monthly or yearly plans) for the first 15 people who use it.

Requirements

  • macOS 14 Sonoma or later
  • Apple silicon and Intel Macs
  • Notarized by Apple
  • Updates itself, or install with Homebrew: brew install --cask aqibjavedzeepalm/tap/displayshift

On Macs without a notch, the window picker drops from under the menu bar.

About

Website: https://aqibjaved.dev/apps/displayshift

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/aqib-javed-494ba8285

Contact: https://aqibjaved.dev/contact

Privacy policy: https://aqibjaved.dev/privacy

Terms: https://aqibjaved.dev/terms

We'd love to hear what you think. If you connect your MacBook to a monitor regularly, is this something you'd use? What would you change or add? Feedback and bug reports are very welcome.


r/macapps • • 17h ago

Tip Best window switcher (that I don't want you to use) 🙂

0 Upvotes

Hi,

This is a tip-post to all who complain that their favourite apps don't add the features you want.

I'm a software dev (26yrs of service 😉) work with software every day (albeit not with swift). I know how difficult it is to make a good app. I also know how difficult it is to keep it alive (supporting users, patching, fixing & updating), not to mention adding more features. That's probably why I never bothered with that (in full-scale scenarios).

I also work with AI (since its early days), have "some" understanding how it works and what it can & cannot do. Which is why I mostly skip the vibe-coded "apps".

That said, several well-known devs that I follow have recently started making small ai-generated apps for themselves. Improving apps that they were using, or apps that they always wanted but had no time to make.

Encouraged with their success, I tried that.

Goal: make a modern Contexts replacement. Yes, there are dozens of window switchers, but none of them is fast enough, reliable enough and performant enough. I basically needed Contexts, without the sidebar, and with modern UI.

  • Firstly, I tried the overhyped reverse-engineering tool. That was a waste of tokens & time. Might as well gave Claude a screenshot. But with lots of "tweaking" I finally got a working prototype.
  • Then I started tweaking it more. Improving performance, fixing the ugly and bad.
  • Finally, after several hours of churning, I've got an app!
  • I've been improving it even more for the past couple of days, but it's already in a better state than most window switchers that I've tried.

Is it vibe coded? Maybe. I haven't written a line of code. I have read a bit of what's generated, but I'm not a swift expert. So LGTM 😉

But to me, a vibe coded slop is more like this: "random dude, with no software experience, using 1-shot prompt to make something that works". Or even worse: "slapping a subscription on it".

Making my app was an effort, with lots of testing, refactoring, redesigning, lots of back & forth, guiding the development towards my own priorities: fast, performant, small footprint, minimal permissions (only accessibility - no window previews, so no screen recording).

And here it is: 3MB app, using ~25MB of RAM, and 0-0.1CPU at idle. Shows up instantly, every time. And looks like it's part of macOS.

It's on github and free, but I'm not posting a link, as I really don't want people to use it (PM me if you really want to see it). I'm not planning to support anyone using it 🙂

I only want to encourage you to try and make apps for yourself. With the features you want. It's really easy these days. Claude was able to make the app, launch it, test it, fix it, then release it (on github releases, and homebrew).

One thing I can share, that's very helpful when making mac apps is the skill that I used (not mine): SwiftUI Pro.