My first Mac app BuddyBar is now live!
https://reddit.com/link/1pn841m/video/idgcizvbid7g1/player
Hello fellow Mac app lovers!
BuddyBar started as a Chrome Extension in September. It keeps your brand colors floating on screen in Articulate Rise so you can copy hex codes for your courses. It's expanded a lot since then, encompassing many other design and productivity sites like Figma, Canva, etc. With the release of the Mac version of BuddyBar you can now use it on your whole computer! Applications like the Adobe suite, Affinity, Final Cut Pro, or MS Office apps, all work with BuddyBar!
The Chrome extension and Mac app sync locally automatically, so your palettes stay in sync across both. I vibe coded the app with the help of Claude in Visual Studio Code on my Mac. It's free to use and works with macOS 14.6+
Download it here: https://buddybar.io
Happy to answer questions or take feedback! I hope some people find it useful, It was made originally to fill a pain point for me.
https://redd.it/1pn841m
@macappsbackup
https://reddit.com/link/1pn841m/video/idgcizvbid7g1/player
Hello fellow Mac app lovers!
BuddyBar started as a Chrome Extension in September. It keeps your brand colors floating on screen in Articulate Rise so you can copy hex codes for your courses. It's expanded a lot since then, encompassing many other design and productivity sites like Figma, Canva, etc. With the release of the Mac version of BuddyBar you can now use it on your whole computer! Applications like the Adobe suite, Affinity, Final Cut Pro, or MS Office apps, all work with BuddyBar!
The Chrome extension and Mac app sync locally automatically, so your palettes stay in sync across both. I vibe coded the app with the help of Claude in Visual Studio Code on my Mac. It's free to use and works with macOS 14.6+
Download it here: https://buddybar.io
Happy to answer questions or take feedback! I hope some people find it useful, It was made originally to fill a pain point for me.
https://redd.it/1pn841m
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
Affordable Alternatives to Hazel
Hazel
Hazel is an automation utility that uses user-defined rules to automatically perform file operations on folder contents. It uses a variety of metadata to move, copy, compress, decompress, open, delete, rename, and sort files and folders automatically.
# My Use Cases
Sorting my documents folder by file type
Renaming my photos by the date taken
Opening DMG files and moving the contents to my Applications folder
Decompressing ZIP and RAR files, and if they contain an app, moving it to the Applications folder
Converting text files to markdown and moving them to the correct folder in Obsidian
Converting downloaded HEIC images to JPG
Reading PDF invoices and filing them by vendor
Adding downloaded ebooks to Calibre
Adding downloaded audiobooks to Audio Bookshelf
Moving NZB and t*rrent files to the appropriate downloader
The primary drawback of using Hazel for some people is the price. A license is $42, and upgrades are typically about half of that. For what it does, I find that well worth it, but it's understandably steep for some folks.
# Alternatives
[FolderTidy](https://appaddict.app/post/folder-tidy-on-demand-fast-power) \- Currently on sale for $5, FolderTidy is a tool anyone can use to perform quick sorts on any giant directories of files that seem overwhelming to tackle manually. It has built-in sorting rules for 19 different types of files, including folders. These rules can be toggled on or off, but you cannot edit them. In addition, you can make your own very granular rules. The example they give is representative of the power of the app: "Move all files with the extension 'DOCX' that contain the word 'invoice' and were last modified in the past year to a folder labeled 'Invoices.'"
**Spotless** \- Currently on sale at BundleHunt for $2.99, Spotless is pretty powerful in its own right. It features automated smart folders, scheduled tasks, drag-and-drop (on-demand) operations, unlimited tasks, a rules wizard for help in creating new tasks, a backup feature, conflict management, a detailed history, and a choice between silent and confirmed operations.
[Sortio](https://www.getsortio.com/) \- Currently on sale for $12.99 at the dev's website and the [Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sortio/id6737292062?mt=12), Sortio uses AI to let you describe the task you want to accomplish, whereupon it creates the rules itself. There is a slight learning curve. For example, when sorting a folder, I said I wanted them organized by file type, and it grouped all the images together. What I actually wanted was the files organized by extension, so I had to rephrase the request. Thankfully, Sortio gives you a preview of every action, so you always have a safety net.
**Folder Actions** \- Folder Actions is a built-in macOS feature that allows you to attach noscripts to a folder, triggering actions automatically when the folder's contents change. When files are added, removed, or modified, macOS runs an assigned AppleScript or Automator action without any clicks. It's effective for tasks like renaming files, sorting downloads, or initiating workflows, but it only supports AppleScript/Automator and hasn't changed much over the years.
https://redd.it/1pn8teg
@macappsbackup
Hazel
Hazel is an automation utility that uses user-defined rules to automatically perform file operations on folder contents. It uses a variety of metadata to move, copy, compress, decompress, open, delete, rename, and sort files and folders automatically.
# My Use Cases
Sorting my documents folder by file type
Renaming my photos by the date taken
Opening DMG files and moving the contents to my Applications folder
Decompressing ZIP and RAR files, and if they contain an app, moving it to the Applications folder
Converting text files to markdown and moving them to the correct folder in Obsidian
Converting downloaded HEIC images to JPG
Reading PDF invoices and filing them by vendor
Adding downloaded ebooks to Calibre
Adding downloaded audiobooks to Audio Bookshelf
Moving NZB and t*rrent files to the appropriate downloader
The primary drawback of using Hazel for some people is the price. A license is $42, and upgrades are typically about half of that. For what it does, I find that well worth it, but it's understandably steep for some folks.
# Alternatives
[FolderTidy](https://appaddict.app/post/folder-tidy-on-demand-fast-power) \- Currently on sale for $5, FolderTidy is a tool anyone can use to perform quick sorts on any giant directories of files that seem overwhelming to tackle manually. It has built-in sorting rules for 19 different types of files, including folders. These rules can be toggled on or off, but you cannot edit them. In addition, you can make your own very granular rules. The example they give is representative of the power of the app: "Move all files with the extension 'DOCX' that contain the word 'invoice' and were last modified in the past year to a folder labeled 'Invoices.'"
**Spotless** \- Currently on sale at BundleHunt for $2.99, Spotless is pretty powerful in its own right. It features automated smart folders, scheduled tasks, drag-and-drop (on-demand) operations, unlimited tasks, a rules wizard for help in creating new tasks, a backup feature, conflict management, a detailed history, and a choice between silent and confirmed operations.
[Sortio](https://www.getsortio.com/) \- Currently on sale for $12.99 at the dev's website and the [Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sortio/id6737292062?mt=12), Sortio uses AI to let you describe the task you want to accomplish, whereupon it creates the rules itself. There is a slight learning curve. For example, when sorting a folder, I said I wanted them organized by file type, and it grouped all the images together. What I actually wanted was the files organized by extension, so I had to rephrase the request. Thankfully, Sortio gives you a preview of every action, so you always have a safety net.
**Folder Actions** \- Folder Actions is a built-in macOS feature that allows you to attach noscripts to a folder, triggering actions automatically when the folder's contents change. When files are added, removed, or modified, macOS runs an assigned AppleScript or Automator action without any clicks. It's effective for tasks like renaming files, sorting downloads, or initiating workflows, but it only supports AppleScript/Automator and hasn't changed much over the years.
https://redd.it/1pn8teg
@macappsbackup
Switching from Windows to macOS as a power user – I ended up building a small tool
A few months ago I switched from Windows to macOS.
To be honest, I always had a pretty negative opinion about Macs — until my daughter, who is a composer, was basically forced to use one for her work because she only uses Logic Pro.
Then Windows 11 hardware requirements delivered the final push, so I bought a used MacBook and made the switch.
The transition was rough. Some things were actually pleasant surprises (for example, Midnight Commander working perfectly felt strangely comforting 😄), but there are still things I struggle to get used to.
The biggest issue for me was window management.
I usually have around 20 windows open at the same time:
multiple SSH sessions to servers, 5–6 VS Code projects, terminals, spreadsheets, browsers, and documents.
Alt+Tab helped to some extent, but I really missed having all my windows expanded and visible at the bottom of the screen, Windows-style.
At the same time, I actually like the Dock.
Since I’m a developer, I ended up building a small utility for myself that brings back classic Windows-style taskbar behavior on macOS, while keeping the Dock.
It’s completely free — this isn’t my main profile — I built it mainly to solve my own workflow pain, but I figured others might find it useful as well.
I also have plenty of ideas for future improvements, but for now I was mostly curious whether others struggled with the same thing after switching.
https://redd.it/1pnbero
@macappsbackup
A few months ago I switched from Windows to macOS.
To be honest, I always had a pretty negative opinion about Macs — until my daughter, who is a composer, was basically forced to use one for her work because she only uses Logic Pro.
Then Windows 11 hardware requirements delivered the final push, so I bought a used MacBook and made the switch.
The transition was rough. Some things were actually pleasant surprises (for example, Midnight Commander working perfectly felt strangely comforting 😄), but there are still things I struggle to get used to.
The biggest issue for me was window management.
I usually have around 20 windows open at the same time:
multiple SSH sessions to servers, 5–6 VS Code projects, terminals, spreadsheets, browsers, and documents.
Alt+Tab helped to some extent, but I really missed having all my windows expanded and visible at the bottom of the screen, Windows-style.
At the same time, I actually like the Dock.
Since I’m a developer, I ended up building a small utility for myself that brings back classic Windows-style taskbar behavior on macOS, while keeping the Dock.
It’s completely free — this isn’t my main profile — I built it mainly to solve my own workflow pain, but I figured others might find it useful as well.
I also have plenty of ideas for future improvements, but for now I was mostly curious whether others struggled with the same thing after switching.
https://redd.it/1pnbero
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
macOS app that gives a temporary public HTTPS URL and captures incoming requests
I’m trying to find a macOS app that can act as a temporary public web endpoint, similar to a hosted static site + request logger combined.
What I’m looking for conceptually:
The app provides a public HTTPS URL (not localhost)
A browser can load that URL like a normal website
JavaScript served from that URL runs under a real web origin
The same app can capture/log incoming HTTP (or DNS) requests sent to that URL
No need to buy a domain or deploy anything manually
Basically something that replaces:
a simple static hosting service and a webhook / request bin
…but packaged as a desktop macOS app.
I know tools like ngrok, Burp, Charles, etc. handle parts of this, but I’m curious if there’s an app that fully owns the public origin itself (not just tunneling localhost) and gives you a clean UI for request visibility.
Does anything like this exist on macOS?
Or is this fundamentally something that’s only practical as a web service rather than a desktop app?
Not looking for automation or API testing tools — this needs to work with actual browser behavior and origin rules.
Appreciate any pointers or “this doesn’t exist and here’s why” explanations.
https://redd.it/1pn8zi9
@macappsbackup
I’m trying to find a macOS app that can act as a temporary public web endpoint, similar to a hosted static site + request logger combined.
What I’m looking for conceptually:
The app provides a public HTTPS URL (not localhost)
A browser can load that URL like a normal website
JavaScript served from that URL runs under a real web origin
The same app can capture/log incoming HTTP (or DNS) requests sent to that URL
No need to buy a domain or deploy anything manually
Basically something that replaces:
a simple static hosting service and a webhook / request bin
…but packaged as a desktop macOS app.
I know tools like ngrok, Burp, Charles, etc. handle parts of this, but I’m curious if there’s an app that fully owns the public origin itself (not just tunneling localhost) and gives you a clean UI for request visibility.
Does anything like this exist on macOS?
Or is this fundamentally something that’s only practical as a web service rather than a desktop app?
Not looking for automation or API testing tools — this needs to work with actual browser behavior and origin rules.
Appreciate any pointers or “this doesn’t exist and here’s why” explanations.
https://redd.it/1pn8zi9
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
Looking for feedback on a small macOS tool I built to mock APIs locally
Heyo,
while I working on different macOS and iOS projects across multiple teams, I kept running into the same issue: the backend wasnt ready yet, but I still needed API responses to finish UI work and test flows.
At first I handled this by spinning up a temp localhost server. I was using Swift and Vapor just to return some JSON. It worked, but it always felt like too much setup for such a simple need, especially when I only needed a few static responses.
Eventually I built a small native macOS app for myself that lets me create local endpoints and return JSON quickly, without setting up a full backend. I started using it across my own projects, and after a while decided to clean it up a bit and release it on the Mac App Store. I called it Mocksy.
Decided to share it, maybe someone will it it useful. Would really appreciate feedback from other Mac developers. Thanks!
Here’s the App Store link if you want to take a look:
https://apps.apple.com/app/id6755538837
https://redd.it/1pngy72
@macappsbackup
Heyo,
while I working on different macOS and iOS projects across multiple teams, I kept running into the same issue: the backend wasnt ready yet, but I still needed API responses to finish UI work and test flows.
At first I handled this by spinning up a temp localhost server. I was using Swift and Vapor just to return some JSON. It worked, but it always felt like too much setup for such a simple need, especially when I only needed a few static responses.
Eventually I built a small native macOS app for myself that lets me create local endpoints and return JSON quickly, without setting up a full backend. I started using it across my own projects, and after a while decided to clean it up a bit and release it on the Mac App Store. I called it Mocksy.
Decided to share it, maybe someone will it it useful. Would really appreciate feedback from other Mac developers. Thanks!
Here’s the App Store link if you want to take a look:
https://apps.apple.com/app/id6755538837
https://redd.it/1pngy72
@macappsbackup
App Store
Mocksy - API Server & Mock App - App Store
Download Mocksy - API Server & Mock by Justas Zaltauskas on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more games like Mocksy - API…
Outpost from Parachute
I can't seem to get the drag files to open parachute. It doesn't active when I do this. Maybe its only designed for a mouse? Has anyone got it work successfully?
https://redd.it/1pnoubv
@macappsbackup
I can't seem to get the drag files to open parachute. It doesn't active when I do this. Maybe its only designed for a mouse? Has anyone got it work successfully?
https://redd.it/1pnoubv
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
ZeroHz – One-click lofi + ambient sounds from your Mac menu bar
Short demo showing how ZeroHz works from the macOS menu bar.
Hey everyone,
I built ZeroHz because I kept losing 20+ minutes every morning just trying to find the “right” focus music on Spotify or YouTube.
By the time I settled on something, my flow was already broken.
I wanted something that lets me start a focused work session instantly,
without opening tabs or making decisions.
ZeroHz lives in your Mac menu bar.
With one click, you get lofi music, ambient sounds, and a simple focus timer
all without leaving what you’re working on.
What it does:
• Menu bar access for instant start
• Lofi + ambient sound combinations (rain, waves, forest, etc.)
• Simple focus timer to stay in flow
I designed it specifically for macOS users who value minimal UI and staying in context.
The goal was to make something that feels native and stays out of the way.
I’m actively improving it based on feedback.
If you work remotely or study on a Mac and struggle with context switching, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
https://redd.it/1pnpohl
@macappsbackup
Short demo showing how ZeroHz works from the macOS menu bar.
Hey everyone,
I built ZeroHz because I kept losing 20+ minutes every morning just trying to find the “right” focus music on Spotify or YouTube.
By the time I settled on something, my flow was already broken.
I wanted something that lets me start a focused work session instantly,
without opening tabs or making decisions.
ZeroHz lives in your Mac menu bar.
With one click, you get lofi music, ambient sounds, and a simple focus timer
all without leaving what you’re working on.
What it does:
• Menu bar access for instant start
• Lofi + ambient sound combinations (rain, waves, forest, etc.)
• Simple focus timer to stay in flow
I designed it specifically for macOS users who value minimal UI and staying in context.
The goal was to make something that feels native and stays out of the way.
I’m actively improving it based on feedback.
If you work remotely or study on a Mac and struggle with context switching, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
https://redd.it/1pnpohl
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
Anyone else daily driving Orion on macOS lately?
After the latest update (Version 1.0.0 (139) - macOS 26.2 (25C56)
I’ve been daily driving Orion Browser and honestly… it’s been amazing.
UI is gorgeous, speed is unreal, and RAM usage is way lower than Firefox/Zen and other browsers I’ve tried.
I’ve compiled a list of bugs (mostly small, nothing fatal) that I’m planning to submit, but overall this has been the best browsing experience I’ve had on macOS so far. Would love to see the community grow so updates and polish come faster.
If you haven’t tried it yet, give it a shot.
Curious what everyone’s current daily browser on Mac is! For me, vertical tabs and focus mode are non-negotiable.
\--------------------------------------------------------------------
Minor bugs I’ve noticed so far (nothing deal-breaking):
Vertical tabs edge detection: In vertical tab mode when not fullscreen, if the window is even slightly misaligned from the left edge of the screen, the tabs won’t appear. Your cursor has to be able to reach the absolute leftmost edge for them to show, so the window basically needs to be perfectly flush with the screen edge.
Fullscreen keyboard shortcuts: In fullscreen mode, some shortcuts (e.g. Ctrl + L for URL/search) occasionally stop working. Exiting fullscreen and re-entering fixes it.
https://redd.it/1pnpgn3
@macappsbackup
After the latest update (Version 1.0.0 (139) - macOS 26.2 (25C56)
I’ve been daily driving Orion Browser and honestly… it’s been amazing.
UI is gorgeous, speed is unreal, and RAM usage is way lower than Firefox/Zen and other browsers I’ve tried.
I’ve compiled a list of bugs (mostly small, nothing fatal) that I’m planning to submit, but overall this has been the best browsing experience I’ve had on macOS so far. Would love to see the community grow so updates and polish come faster.
If you haven’t tried it yet, give it a shot.
Curious what everyone’s current daily browser on Mac is! For me, vertical tabs and focus mode are non-negotiable.
\--------------------------------------------------------------------
Minor bugs I’ve noticed so far (nothing deal-breaking):
Vertical tabs edge detection: In vertical tab mode when not fullscreen, if the window is even slightly misaligned from the left edge of the screen, the tabs won’t appear. Your cursor has to be able to reach the absolute leftmost edge for them to show, so the window basically needs to be perfectly flush with the screen edge.
Fullscreen keyboard shortcuts: In fullscreen mode, some shortcuts (e.g. Ctrl + L for URL/search) occasionally stop working. Exiting fullscreen and re-entering fixes it.
https://redd.it/1pnpgn3
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
Found a clean little project planning app that works great across Apple devices
It’s called **Projectholic**, and what stood out to me is how differently it behaves across Mac / iPad / iPhone — in a good way.
The Mac and iPad version feels like a desktop planner, and the iPhone one works nicely for quick check-ins or adding tasks on the go.
*Processing img u65givatoi4g1...*
*Processing img 3y1t7o1voi4g1...*
Some things I liked so far:
* Simple project calendar that actually makes sense
* Multi-day tasks flow naturally
* Timeline view on Mac/iPad is surprisingly useful
* Doesn’t feel bloated like most “project management” apps
* Works well if you’re handling stuff solo or juggling side projects
Nothing groundbreaking, just a solid, well-designed tool that clicked for me.
Sharing in case someone else is looking for something lightweight across Apple devices.
Link if you want to check it out:
[https://apps.apple.com/app/id6745497754](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6745497754)
Also open to recommendations — always curious what others use to keep projects organized.
https://redd.it/1pnxpoj
@macappsbackup
It’s called **Projectholic**, and what stood out to me is how differently it behaves across Mac / iPad / iPhone — in a good way.
The Mac and iPad version feels like a desktop planner, and the iPhone one works nicely for quick check-ins or adding tasks on the go.
*Processing img u65givatoi4g1...*
*Processing img 3y1t7o1voi4g1...*
Some things I liked so far:
* Simple project calendar that actually makes sense
* Multi-day tasks flow naturally
* Timeline view on Mac/iPad is surprisingly useful
* Doesn’t feel bloated like most “project management” apps
* Works well if you’re handling stuff solo or juggling side projects
Nothing groundbreaking, just a solid, well-designed tool that clicked for me.
Sharing in case someone else is looking for something lightweight across Apple devices.
Link if you want to check it out:
[https://apps.apple.com/app/id6745497754](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6745497754)
Also open to recommendations — always curious what others use to keep projects organized.
https://redd.it/1pnxpoj
@macappsbackup
App Store
Projectholic: Plan, Track, Win App - App Store
Download Projectholic: Plan, Track, Win by Feiou Su on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more games like Projectholic: Plan,…
YouTube AI Summary Mac App?
So I've been keeping an eye out on an app that can summarise YouTube videos but I'm yet to come across one that is a one-time payment (or allows own API key/local LLM) and works as either a Mac app or a Firefox extension.
Most existing services are random websites that you are tied to subnoscription payment models which I'm not here for.
Does anyone have any suggestions on some potential candidates? I know there's new apps coming out weekly but they can take months for Google to index them or even for users to discover them.
Thanks!
https://redd.it/1pnxibg
@macappsbackup
So I've been keeping an eye out on an app that can summarise YouTube videos but I'm yet to come across one that is a one-time payment (or allows own API key/local LLM) and works as either a Mac app or a Firefox extension.
Most existing services are random websites that you are tied to subnoscription payment models which I'm not here for.
Does anyone have any suggestions on some potential candidates? I know there's new apps coming out weekly but they can take months for Google to index them or even for users to discover them.
Thanks!
https://redd.it/1pnxibg
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
Just got my macOS app approved for TestFlight - Looking for early testers
Hi Reddit 👋
This is my first time actually posting after lurking here, so go easy on me!
**A bit if background**: I went back to university in my 40s to get my bachelor's in Digital Forensics in Norway. During my studies, I stumble upon a pain point: **Contemporaneous Notes.** *Yes I know, not another* ***Notes*** *app* 😓. I promise you, it is not 😌.
I realize that Digital Forensics isn't just about carving out evidence or analyzing hex code, it's about documenting *everything* you do, exactly when you do it. I couldn't find a tool that offers what I need. I use Words, Obsidian, Apple Notes and even other Note taking app, but in the end, it was not what I was looking for and it was time consuming. So, beside my bachelor, I decide to learn Swift and build it myself.
It is called **ChainFlux**.
[Main UI](https://preview.redd.it/moo6kft0cj7g1.png?width=1427&format=png&auto=webp&s=73b39bd96845be16669063bb64faec56f2d0c607)
[Transparency theme with Timeline and Rows](https://preview.redd.it/akerq29acj7g1.png?width=1399&format=png&auto=webp&s=26c3d5d9714f1a9e4d5196fb77ccf0d6564ecbd3)
It's introduced a workflow i call "**The Row.**"
1. 🔒 **100% Local Storage:** All Case Data stored locally. Nothing is sent to the cloud. Your evidence stays yours.
2. **⏱️ Auto-timestamp:** Each Row start with logging the exact Date and Time
3. **📝 Action & Denoscription**: You log what you did
4. **😎 Signature**: It ends with your investigator signature (name of the user)
It also able to add evidence files (attachments) in the **Row**, text snippets for repetitive jargons, and speech-to-text for when your hands are busy.
[The Row, Notch and Sidebar](https://preview.redd.it/hv4ci944cj7g1.png?width=1410&format=png&auto=webp&s=1ef3ee5a66c35869fc1288ddd9fd4a5611b7f7f9)
I am an "Indie Dev" with a Forensics degree, not a CS degree, so i built this to solve a problem I face when working with **Contemporaneous Note**. I build everything myself (app, UI, logo, website).
It is current in **Public Beta (TestFlight)**, and I would love some feedback from this community.
*ChainFlux supports macOS 14.6+, but i am a solo developer developing and testing on my Mac mini M4 basic model with* ***macOS 26+.***
🌐 Website/TestFlight: [www.getchainflux.com](http://www.getchainflux.com)
Happy to answer questions and thanks for letting a lurker finally post 😊.
\**Because of my first post on Reddit, all the text and images could be not in the right place, sorry for this\**
https://redd.it/1pnxw07
@macappsbackup
Hi Reddit 👋
This is my first time actually posting after lurking here, so go easy on me!
**A bit if background**: I went back to university in my 40s to get my bachelor's in Digital Forensics in Norway. During my studies, I stumble upon a pain point: **Contemporaneous Notes.** *Yes I know, not another* ***Notes*** *app* 😓. I promise you, it is not 😌.
I realize that Digital Forensics isn't just about carving out evidence or analyzing hex code, it's about documenting *everything* you do, exactly when you do it. I couldn't find a tool that offers what I need. I use Words, Obsidian, Apple Notes and even other Note taking app, but in the end, it was not what I was looking for and it was time consuming. So, beside my bachelor, I decide to learn Swift and build it myself.
It is called **ChainFlux**.
[Main UI](https://preview.redd.it/moo6kft0cj7g1.png?width=1427&format=png&auto=webp&s=73b39bd96845be16669063bb64faec56f2d0c607)
[Transparency theme with Timeline and Rows](https://preview.redd.it/akerq29acj7g1.png?width=1399&format=png&auto=webp&s=26c3d5d9714f1a9e4d5196fb77ccf0d6564ecbd3)
It's introduced a workflow i call "**The Row.**"
1. 🔒 **100% Local Storage:** All Case Data stored locally. Nothing is sent to the cloud. Your evidence stays yours.
2. **⏱️ Auto-timestamp:** Each Row start with logging the exact Date and Time
3. **📝 Action & Denoscription**: You log what you did
4. **😎 Signature**: It ends with your investigator signature (name of the user)
It also able to add evidence files (attachments) in the **Row**, text snippets for repetitive jargons, and speech-to-text for when your hands are busy.
[The Row, Notch and Sidebar](https://preview.redd.it/hv4ci944cj7g1.png?width=1410&format=png&auto=webp&s=1ef3ee5a66c35869fc1288ddd9fd4a5611b7f7f9)
I am an "Indie Dev" with a Forensics degree, not a CS degree, so i built this to solve a problem I face when working with **Contemporaneous Note**. I build everything myself (app, UI, logo, website).
It is current in **Public Beta (TestFlight)**, and I would love some feedback from this community.
*ChainFlux supports macOS 14.6+, but i am a solo developer developing and testing on my Mac mini M4 basic model with* ***macOS 26+.***
🌐 Website/TestFlight: [www.getchainflux.com](http://www.getchainflux.com)
Happy to answer questions and thanks for letting a lurker finally post 😊.
\**Because of my first post on Reddit, all the text and images could be not in the right place, sorry for this\**
https://redd.it/1pnxw07
@macappsbackup
HiFidelity v1.0.6 released, A native macOS offline audiophile music player (SwiftUI, BASS, TagLib) [Open Source]
[music player](https://preview.redd.it/dcjdkfmx4k7g1.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8e0ec1486da6c53f94f36fad8868cff67befc26f)
# Features:
* Powered by the BASS (un4seen) audio library for professional-grade audio quality and TagLib for meta-data reading
* Support for 10+ audio formats including lossless and high-resolution files
* **Lossless & Hi-Res**: FLAC, OGA, WAV, AIFF, AIF, APE, WV, TTA, DFF, DSF
* **Compressed**: MP3, MP2, AAC, OGG, OPUS, M4A, M4B, M4P, MP4, M4V, MPC
* **Specialized**: CAF, WEBM, SPX
* **Bit-perfect playback** with sample rate synchronization and Obtain Exclusive Access of audio device **(Hog mode)**
* **Gapless Playback**: Seamless transitions between tracks with no silence or interruption
* Built-in equalizer with customizable presets
* Browse by tracks, albums, artists, or genres
* **Smart Recommendations**: Auto play functionality, you don't have to think what to play next
* **Lyrics Support**:
* Download lyrics directly within the app from lrclib
* Real-time line-by-line lyrics highlighting
* **Mini Player**: Compact floating window with integrated queue and lyrics panels
* **Audio device change** option within UI
* **Advanced Search**: Find tracks instantly across your entire library with FTS5
* **Playback History**: Keep track of what you've listened to
* **Favorites**: Mark and organize your favorite tracks
* Menu bar controls and Now Playing info
GitHub: [https://github.com/rvarunrathod/HiFidelity](https://github.com/rvarunrathod/HiFidelity)
Website: [https://rvarunrathod.github.io/HiFidelity/](https://rvarunrathod.github.io/HiFidelity/)
https://redd.it/1po0bzu
@macappsbackup
[music player](https://preview.redd.it/dcjdkfmx4k7g1.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8e0ec1486da6c53f94f36fad8868cff67befc26f)
# Features:
* Powered by the BASS (un4seen) audio library for professional-grade audio quality and TagLib for meta-data reading
* Support for 10+ audio formats including lossless and high-resolution files
* **Lossless & Hi-Res**: FLAC, OGA, WAV, AIFF, AIF, APE, WV, TTA, DFF, DSF
* **Compressed**: MP3, MP2, AAC, OGG, OPUS, M4A, M4B, M4P, MP4, M4V, MPC
* **Specialized**: CAF, WEBM, SPX
* **Bit-perfect playback** with sample rate synchronization and Obtain Exclusive Access of audio device **(Hog mode)**
* **Gapless Playback**: Seamless transitions between tracks with no silence or interruption
* Built-in equalizer with customizable presets
* Browse by tracks, albums, artists, or genres
* **Smart Recommendations**: Auto play functionality, you don't have to think what to play next
* **Lyrics Support**:
* Download lyrics directly within the app from lrclib
* Real-time line-by-line lyrics highlighting
* **Mini Player**: Compact floating window with integrated queue and lyrics panels
* **Audio device change** option within UI
* **Advanced Search**: Find tracks instantly across your entire library with FTS5
* **Playback History**: Keep track of what you've listened to
* **Favorites**: Mark and organize your favorite tracks
* Menu bar controls and Now Playing info
GitHub: [https://github.com/rvarunrathod/HiFidelity](https://github.com/rvarunrathod/HiFidelity)
Website: [https://rvarunrathod.github.io/HiFidelity/](https://rvarunrathod.github.io/HiFidelity/)
https://redd.it/1po0bzu
@macappsbackup
I built a macOS app that shares only the window you hover during Zoom or Teams or Meet calls
Hi everyone,
I do a lot of screen sharing for demos, presentations, and teaching, and I kept running into the same problem.
Sharing the whole screen feels risky, especially on an ultrawide display, and manually switching windows during a call breaks the flow.
So I built a small macOS app called HoverFlow. It mirrors only the app window you hover over and works instantly with Zoom, Teams and Google Meet. This lets you present or demo without accidentally showing emails, files, or other private windows.
It has been especially useful for presentations, live demos, and teaching scenarios where focus and privacy matter.
The app is already live on the Mac App Store. I am still actively improving it and would genuinely appreciate feedback from Mac users who screen share a lot.
Happy to answer any questions.
Mac App Store link:
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/hoverflow/id6751885292
\- Kevin
https://redd.it/1po5wcq
@macappsbackup
Hi everyone,
I do a lot of screen sharing for demos, presentations, and teaching, and I kept running into the same problem.
Sharing the whole screen feels risky, especially on an ultrawide display, and manually switching windows during a call breaks the flow.
So I built a small macOS app called HoverFlow. It mirrors only the app window you hover over and works instantly with Zoom, Teams and Google Meet. This lets you present or demo without accidentally showing emails, files, or other private windows.
It has been especially useful for presentations, live demos, and teaching scenarios where focus and privacy matter.
The app is already live on the Mac App Store. I am still actively improving it and would genuinely appreciate feedback from Mac users who screen share a lot.
Happy to answer any questions.
Mac App Store link:
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/hoverflow/id6751885292
\- Kevin
https://redd.it/1po5wcq
@macappsbackup
App Store
HoverFlow App - App Store
Download HoverFlow by Kevin Gnanih on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips and more games like HoverFlow.
Z-Image-Turbo Local AI Image Gen on Mac App Store with xCreate
Took a while to get it through the App Store review team, but the first version is out and lets you run Z-Image-Turbo a super-quality AI image generation model on your Mac.
App: https://xcreate.com
Explainer video: https://youtu.be/RG5aSqRxAws
This is just a first version, will add improvements, any requests let me know.
It's free to use and download, all generations are local and private.
There is a small watermark which can easily be cropped out, subnoscription is there mainly to support further development.
https://redd.it/1po7m2m
@macappsbackup
Took a while to get it through the App Store review team, but the first version is out and lets you run Z-Image-Turbo a super-quality AI image generation model on your Mac.
App: https://xcreate.com
Explainer video: https://youtu.be/RG5aSqRxAws
This is just a first version, will add improvements, any requests let me know.
It's free to use and download, all generations are local and private.
There is a small watermark which can easily be cropped out, subnoscription is there mainly to support further development.
https://redd.it/1po7m2m
@macappsbackup
xCreate
xCreate | State-of-the-Art Local AI Image Generator
Run AI models locally with full control and privacy. Inspect token probabilities, serve models over network, stream large models with memory offloading and more.
My Markdown Rabbit Hole
I stumbled upon Markdown some years back when I discovered and began using Drafts. It was simple and easy for me to capture little ideas. Back in the old days I just carried index cards and a Sharpie. I was trying to move more and more of my tools to digital. On my Mac it kept my fingers on the keyboard, on my iPad and iPhone it was easy to flip back and forth.
I became interested in Markdown because it kept me from fiddling with formatting. Chasing perfect formatting and having pages "just so" was really distracting me. Markdown solved that problem by preventing me from fiddling with a bunch of things that weren't words on a screen. On most of these editors you can barely change the font, and yes that's hyperbole.
I used to write a bit, and I have been trying to get back into the habit regularly. Since moving from Windows, Android, and Chrome to iPhone macOS and iPad I have been on the hunt for apps that make my life easier. I saw Markdown as part of the solution, but I was fighting it.
Of course, I am all about changing apps and supporting new projects. Some might even say I have a problem. I donate or buy licenses for new software all the time. Either because I think the product is interesting or I like using them. Part of the issues is that I am addicted a little bit to software and different ways of doing things. I falsely believe that the next app will make everything better, but I digress.
Drafts allowed me to capture text ideas very quickly and move them to everything from text messages to separate files. I liked the flexibility of Markdown and I was starting to get the hang of it. In the past I had always struggled with coding parameters because they didn't make sense in my head. I do not code, and this is important to my story. Whether is is just that Markdown is designed for people like me, or the system just fits better in my brain I don't know. Markdown definitely works for me. Drafts is great in terms of features, but I dislike subnoscriptions. There is a "free" version, but it lacks some features that most users would demand on macOS. Aside from that, if you are just jotting down the occasional note and you want to always have a new note ready then this an option but not one I can recommend because I dislike subnoscriptions.
Typora is macOS only, which really frustrates me personally. Not having an iOS version is really difficult for me. In the last ten years since my visual impairment became permanent I have written as many words on my iPhone and iPad as I have on my MacBook Air. That being said, if you only use a computer, and want Windows and Ubuntu capability as well this is a great option. Especially for $15.
ByWord is great to look through, but the app hasn't been updated for a long time. The last update I am seeing on the web is late 2023. $12 for the macOS app and $6 for the iOS version. Not expensive by any means, but I would like a developer who at least updates the users and regularly adds additional features. Nothing, not even a dark icon, or hearty handshake.
My latest find is uFocus is what I am using to write this today. It's free and as they say on their website, no internet connection is required for use. It's fairly full featured. There is an iOS and macOS version, and they are stable and good.
Bear and Craft are often mentioned, and they aren't bad. It is just that the cost and capabilities doesn't seem to compete with UpNote which is my notes application for cross-platform use. Honestly, had I originally realized the Markdown capabilities of UpNote I might not have gone down this rabbit hole. Honestly I probably would have anyway but I degree.
There are also others, Joplin which is free, Standard Notes has a free version,
I stumbled upon Markdown some years back when I discovered and began using Drafts. It was simple and easy for me to capture little ideas. Back in the old days I just carried index cards and a Sharpie. I was trying to move more and more of my tools to digital. On my Mac it kept my fingers on the keyboard, on my iPad and iPhone it was easy to flip back and forth.
I became interested in Markdown because it kept me from fiddling with formatting. Chasing perfect formatting and having pages "just so" was really distracting me. Markdown solved that problem by preventing me from fiddling with a bunch of things that weren't words on a screen. On most of these editors you can barely change the font, and yes that's hyperbole.
I used to write a bit, and I have been trying to get back into the habit regularly. Since moving from Windows, Android, and Chrome to iPhone macOS and iPad I have been on the hunt for apps that make my life easier. I saw Markdown as part of the solution, but I was fighting it.
Of course, I am all about changing apps and supporting new projects. Some might even say I have a problem. I donate or buy licenses for new software all the time. Either because I think the product is interesting or I like using them. Part of the issues is that I am addicted a little bit to software and different ways of doing things. I falsely believe that the next app will make everything better, but I digress.
Drafts allowed me to capture text ideas very quickly and move them to everything from text messages to separate files. I liked the flexibility of Markdown and I was starting to get the hang of it. In the past I had always struggled with coding parameters because they didn't make sense in my head. I do not code, and this is important to my story. Whether is is just that Markdown is designed for people like me, or the system just fits better in my brain I don't know. Markdown definitely works for me. Drafts is great in terms of features, but I dislike subnoscriptions. There is a "free" version, but it lacks some features that most users would demand on macOS. Aside from that, if you are just jotting down the occasional note and you want to always have a new note ready then this an option but not one I can recommend because I dislike subnoscriptions.
Typora is macOS only, which really frustrates me personally. Not having an iOS version is really difficult for me. In the last ten years since my visual impairment became permanent I have written as many words on my iPhone and iPad as I have on my MacBook Air. That being said, if you only use a computer, and want Windows and Ubuntu capability as well this is a great option. Especially for $15.
ByWord is great to look through, but the app hasn't been updated for a long time. The last update I am seeing on the web is late 2023. $12 for the macOS app and $6 for the iOS version. Not expensive by any means, but I would like a developer who at least updates the users and regularly adds additional features. Nothing, not even a dark icon, or hearty handshake.
My latest find is uFocus is what I am using to write this today. It's free and as they say on their website, no internet connection is required for use. It's fairly full featured. There is an iOS and macOS version, and they are stable and good.
Bear and Craft are often mentioned, and they aren't bad. It is just that the cost and capabilities doesn't seem to compete with UpNote which is my notes application for cross-platform use. Honestly, had I originally realized the Markdown capabilities of UpNote I might not have gone down this rabbit hole. Honestly I probably would have anyway but I degree.
There are also others, Joplin which is free, Standard Notes has a free version,
Getdrafts
Drafts, Where Text Starts
Drafts quick-capture app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch
MacDown is free. There are too many to list now.
The 800 pound gorilla in the room is Obsidian which I personally despise. I know some people are upset at that statement, but hear me out. It's too much, too configurable, too featured, and too extensible. It's like learning French just because you want a croissant. Sure it works, but it's entirely too much work for me.
We all have our favorites, and honestly mine is iA Writer. It is a one-time license, fully featured, actively supported with regular updates, iOS and macOS clients, and more. Great support and documentation as well.
So that's my rabbit hole, and I wrote 837 words today...
https://redd.it/1poca6d
@macappsbackup
The 800 pound gorilla in the room is Obsidian which I personally despise. I know some people are upset at that statement, but hear me out. It's too much, too configurable, too featured, and too extensible. It's like learning French just because you want a croissant. Sure it works, but it's entirely too much work for me.
We all have our favorites, and honestly mine is iA Writer. It is a one-time license, fully featured, actively supported with regular updates, iOS and macOS clients, and more. Great support and documentation as well.
So that's my rabbit hole, and I wrote 837 words today...
https://redd.it/1poca6d
@macappsbackup
Uranusjr
MacDown: The open source Markdown editor for macOS
MacDown is an open source Markdown editor for macOS, released under the MIT License.
Looking for an app that will see what a font looks like before I choose it.
A long time ago Apple had a widget or mini app that you could open on the side so you could see all of the letters of each font type.
Is there anything like that nowadays?
I hope i explained it well enough.
https://redd.it/1poi1ui
@macappsbackup
A long time ago Apple had a widget or mini app that you could open on the side so you could see all of the letters of each font type.
Is there anything like that nowadays?
I hope i explained it well enough.
https://redd.it/1poi1ui
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
Drafts Wins App of the Year at Mac Stories
[Drafts](https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1435957248?mt=12&at=11l4Cf&ct=site), an app by Agile Tortoise (AKA Greg Pierce), remarkably won [App of the Year for 2025 at Mac Stories](https://www.macstories.net/stories/macstories-selects-2025-recognizing-the-best-apps-of-the-year//#app-of-the-year), a full thirteen years after its release. Three years ago, Drafts was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the same crew. I think it's a real testament to the developer's commitment to continued development and support. The app is currently at version 49, with new features added regularly. Originally solely for iOS, today Drafts is a Universal App with multiple use cases on mobile and desktop/laptops. It's been in the dock of my iPhone for 11 years and on my Mac since its release. It's just about the only place I enter text on my phone because its huge automation catalog enables me to send what I type to other apps with ease.
Drafts has a robust and long-lived community with a lot of smart people generously helping newcomers on the regular. Every single time I have ever had a question about Drafts, either Greg himself or one of the other community regulars has given me the answer.
# My Favorite Features
* Drafts makes a good scratch pad for any temporary text or notes, and it's super useful to have it sync between my Macs and my iOS/iPadOS devices.
* While not a full-fledged notes app, it does have tags and workspaces for organizational purposes, making it a great repository for any frequently used boilerplate text or frequently pasted information such as API keys.
* The ability to copy text from a web page and paste it into drafts, where it's instantly formatted into Markdown, helps me write Reddit and blog posts with a lot less friction.
* My favorite notes app, Obsidian, has a well-deserved reputation for being slow on the draw on iOS. Drafts is the solution to that issue.
# Apps I use With Drafts
* Obsidian
* Things3
* Fantastical
* DayOne
* Shortcuts
* Dropbox
* Fastmail
* Apple Notes
* ChatGPT
* Ulysses
* Mastodon
* BlueSky
* Micro.Blog
In the past, I've also used it with OmniFocus, Bear, ToDoist, TickTick, Gmail, Google Docs, OneNote, Spark email, DevonThink, IAwriter, Notion, Roam Research, Evernote, Twitter, and Facebook.
There are [hundreds of free workflows](https://directory.getdrafts.com/) available in the Drafts actions directory for a long, long list of situations and apps.
# Specific Use Cases
***The Things 3, Fantastical, Day One Combo***
The [Quick Journaling Action Group](https://directory.getdrafts.com/g/1Sd) lets me keep one running note that I can process at day's end to send the individual lines as entries into [Fantastical,](https://flexibits.com/fantastical) [Things 3](https://culturedcode.com/things/) and [Day One](https://dayoneapp.com/). The appropriate parts of one draft get sent to three separate apps with one command.
* Lines starting with "-" are collected and sent to Day One as a journal entry.
* Lines starting with "⁎" are sent to Things inbox.
* Lines starting with "@" are sent to Fantastical.
***Things Parser***
Using [TaskPaper syntax](https://guide.taskpaper.com/getting-started/), I can create a note in Drafts complete with due dates, areas, projects, and tags that get correctly imported into the Things 3 task manager using the [Things Parser.](https://directory.getdrafts.com/a/1DV) I use this with a Drafts template to create daily and weekly checklists for recurring tasks. I also use the action group, Things for Things, which includes actions for:
* Inbox
* Today
* This Evening
* Tomorrow
* Pick date
* Work
* House
* Personal
* Pick a Project
* Make a Project
* Selection to Things
* Bunch of todos
* Process notes from
* Prompt for new task
***Copy to Obsidian Inbox***
I am all in on [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/), the massively popular notes app with a robust 2000+ plugin architecture. It does a lot of things amazingly well, but mobile quick capture is not one of them. To solve that, I use [this Drafts
[Drafts](https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1435957248?mt=12&at=11l4Cf&ct=site), an app by Agile Tortoise (AKA Greg Pierce), remarkably won [App of the Year for 2025 at Mac Stories](https://www.macstories.net/stories/macstories-selects-2025-recognizing-the-best-apps-of-the-year//#app-of-the-year), a full thirteen years after its release. Three years ago, Drafts was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the same crew. I think it's a real testament to the developer's commitment to continued development and support. The app is currently at version 49, with new features added regularly. Originally solely for iOS, today Drafts is a Universal App with multiple use cases on mobile and desktop/laptops. It's been in the dock of my iPhone for 11 years and on my Mac since its release. It's just about the only place I enter text on my phone because its huge automation catalog enables me to send what I type to other apps with ease.
Drafts has a robust and long-lived community with a lot of smart people generously helping newcomers on the regular. Every single time I have ever had a question about Drafts, either Greg himself or one of the other community regulars has given me the answer.
# My Favorite Features
* Drafts makes a good scratch pad for any temporary text or notes, and it's super useful to have it sync between my Macs and my iOS/iPadOS devices.
* While not a full-fledged notes app, it does have tags and workspaces for organizational purposes, making it a great repository for any frequently used boilerplate text or frequently pasted information such as API keys.
* The ability to copy text from a web page and paste it into drafts, where it's instantly formatted into Markdown, helps me write Reddit and blog posts with a lot less friction.
* My favorite notes app, Obsidian, has a well-deserved reputation for being slow on the draw on iOS. Drafts is the solution to that issue.
# Apps I use With Drafts
* Obsidian
* Things3
* Fantastical
* DayOne
* Shortcuts
* Dropbox
* Fastmail
* Apple Notes
* ChatGPT
* Ulysses
* Mastodon
* BlueSky
* Micro.Blog
In the past, I've also used it with OmniFocus, Bear, ToDoist, TickTick, Gmail, Google Docs, OneNote, Spark email, DevonThink, IAwriter, Notion, Roam Research, Evernote, Twitter, and Facebook.
There are [hundreds of free workflows](https://directory.getdrafts.com/) available in the Drafts actions directory for a long, long list of situations and apps.
# Specific Use Cases
***The Things 3, Fantastical, Day One Combo***
The [Quick Journaling Action Group](https://directory.getdrafts.com/g/1Sd) lets me keep one running note that I can process at day's end to send the individual lines as entries into [Fantastical,](https://flexibits.com/fantastical) [Things 3](https://culturedcode.com/things/) and [Day One](https://dayoneapp.com/). The appropriate parts of one draft get sent to three separate apps with one command.
* Lines starting with "-" are collected and sent to Day One as a journal entry.
* Lines starting with "⁎" are sent to Things inbox.
* Lines starting with "@" are sent to Fantastical.
***Things Parser***
Using [TaskPaper syntax](https://guide.taskpaper.com/getting-started/), I can create a note in Drafts complete with due dates, areas, projects, and tags that get correctly imported into the Things 3 task manager using the [Things Parser.](https://directory.getdrafts.com/a/1DV) I use this with a Drafts template to create daily and weekly checklists for recurring tasks. I also use the action group, Things for Things, which includes actions for:
* Inbox
* Today
* This Evening
* Tomorrow
* Pick date
* Work
* House
* Personal
* Pick a Project
* Make a Project
* Selection to Things
* Bunch of todos
* Process notes from
* Prompt for new task
***Copy to Obsidian Inbox***
I am all in on [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/), the massively popular notes app with a robust 2000+ plugin architecture. It does a lot of things amazingly well, but mobile quick capture is not one of them. To solve that, I use [this Drafts
App Store
Drafts App - App Store
Download Drafts by Agile Tortoise on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more games like Drafts.