DockDoor Pro - The Dock Apple Wouldn't Build
https://preview.redd.it/xj7fd0c2px0h1.png?width=1251&format=png&auto=webp&s=711b2037c02bca62a80fd3197da38e5c037ae827
When the free app DockDoor was released in 2024, it was the first time I had seen a developer add window previews to the Mac Dock in much the same way that other operating system from Redmond handles them. For kicks, it also included a Windows-style application switcher, also free.
I have been updating some older reviews, so I went back to check on DockDoor. Not only does the original free version still exist, but the developer has also added a paid Pro version with a much larger feature set.
The splash page for DockDoor Pro puts its claim front and center:
DockDoor Pro - The Dock macOS Deserves
The official native Mac dock replacement with profiles, live window previews, media controls, a file tray, magnification, and everything Apple left out.
That is bold, but defensible.
# What It Does
The real question with any Dock utility is whether it replaces the native Dock or merely augments it. DockDoor Pro can do either. I hid the native Dock completely and did not run into any problems.
The other killer feature, and one Apple will probably never give us for fear of waking the ghost of Steve Jobs, is the ability to exclude a running app from the Dock. You no longer have to stare at every app just because it happens to be open.
Dock Profiles \- I work in multiple contexts. Some of my time is spent testing software and writing reviews. For that, I need quick access to a file manager, an uninstaller, Activity Monitor, Drafts, Obsidian, my Downloads folder, the folder where I keep rough drafts, the folder where I keep archives, and Reddit.
DockDoor Pro profiles can include:
Pinned apps
Folders
Files
Widgets
URLs
Design elements, including separators and spacers
When I switch to media management, I need a different setup: Calibre, Swinsian, Yate, digiKam, & ToyViewer.
When it is time to do research or just relax, I want Inoreader, FreeTube, Plex, Radarr, Sonarr, and websites like Mac Menu Bar and AlternativeTo.
DockDoor Pro gives you two ways to switch profiles. The easiest is to associate a specific app with a profile. When you open an app tied to another workflow, the Dock profile changes automatically. If you work with multiple monitors, you can also assign different Docks on a per-display basis.
One welcome feature is the ability to export Dock profiles as JSON. That makes it easy to move a setup to another Mac or keep a restorable backup in case an experiment goes sideways.
Control Panel \- Each Dock contains a tiny icon that opens a control panel when long-clicked. It consolidates an app launcher, profile switcher, volume slider, audio device picker, and power controls. It is a well-designed bit of UI rather than a pile of bolted-on buttons.
File Tray \- If you keep your Dock at the bottom of the display, scrolling on it reveals a file tray. You can drop files there temporarily, drag them back out when you need them, or send them via AirDrop directly from the tray.
Widgets \- DockDoor Pro also includes small widgets that add live tiles directly to the Dock, including weather and system stats. They stay compact at rest and expand with more detail on hover. They also adapt to the
https://preview.redd.it/xj7fd0c2px0h1.png?width=1251&format=png&auto=webp&s=711b2037c02bca62a80fd3197da38e5c037ae827
When the free app DockDoor was released in 2024, it was the first time I had seen a developer add window previews to the Mac Dock in much the same way that other operating system from Redmond handles them. For kicks, it also included a Windows-style application switcher, also free.
I have been updating some older reviews, so I went back to check on DockDoor. Not only does the original free version still exist, but the developer has also added a paid Pro version with a much larger feature set.
The splash page for DockDoor Pro puts its claim front and center:
DockDoor Pro - The Dock macOS Deserves
The official native Mac dock replacement with profiles, live window previews, media controls, a file tray, magnification, and everything Apple left out.
That is bold, but defensible.
# What It Does
The real question with any Dock utility is whether it replaces the native Dock or merely augments it. DockDoor Pro can do either. I hid the native Dock completely and did not run into any problems.
The other killer feature, and one Apple will probably never give us for fear of waking the ghost of Steve Jobs, is the ability to exclude a running app from the Dock. You no longer have to stare at every app just because it happens to be open.
Dock Profiles \- I work in multiple contexts. Some of my time is spent testing software and writing reviews. For that, I need quick access to a file manager, an uninstaller, Activity Monitor, Drafts, Obsidian, my Downloads folder, the folder where I keep rough drafts, the folder where I keep archives, and Reddit.
DockDoor Pro profiles can include:
Pinned apps
Folders
Files
Widgets
URLs
Design elements, including separators and spacers
When I switch to media management, I need a different setup: Calibre, Swinsian, Yate, digiKam, & ToyViewer.
When it is time to do research or just relax, I want Inoreader, FreeTube, Plex, Radarr, Sonarr, and websites like Mac Menu Bar and AlternativeTo.
DockDoor Pro gives you two ways to switch profiles. The easiest is to associate a specific app with a profile. When you open an app tied to another workflow, the Dock profile changes automatically. If you work with multiple monitors, you can also assign different Docks on a per-display basis.
One welcome feature is the ability to export Dock profiles as JSON. That makes it easy to move a setup to another Mac or keep a restorable backup in case an experiment goes sideways.
Control Panel \- Each Dock contains a tiny icon that opens a control panel when long-clicked. It consolidates an app launcher, profile switcher, volume slider, audio device picker, and power controls. It is a well-designed bit of UI rather than a pile of bolted-on buttons.
File Tray \- If you keep your Dock at the bottom of the display, scrolling on it reveals a file tray. You can drop files there temporarily, drag them back out when you need them, or send them via AirDrop directly from the tray.
Widgets \- DockDoor Pro also includes small widgets that add live tiles directly to the Dock, including weather and system stats. They stay compact at rest and expand with more detail on hover. They also adapt to the
DockDoor Pro - The Dock Apple Wouldn't Build
https://preview.redd.it/xj7fd0c2px0h1.png?width=1251&format=png&auto=webp&s=711b2037c02bca62a80fd3197da38e5c037ae827
When the free app DockDoor was released in 2024, it was the first time I had seen a developer add window previews to the Mac Dock in much the same way that other operating system from Redmond handles them. For kicks, it also included a Windows-style application switcher, also free.
I have been [updating some older reviews](https://appaddict.app/post/dockdoor-adds-functionality-to-macos), so I went back to check on DockDoor. Not only does the original free version still exist, but the developer has also added a paid Pro version with a much larger feature set.
The splash page for DockDoor Pro puts its claim front and center:
**DockDoor Pro - The Dock macOS Deserves**
**The official native Mac dock replacement with profiles, live window previews, media controls, a file tray, magnification, and everything Apple left out.**
That is bold, but defensible.
# What It Does
The real question with any Dock utility is whether it replaces the native Dock or merely augments it. DockDoor Pro can do either. I hid the native Dock completely and did not run into any problems.
The other killer feature, and one Apple will probably never give us for fear of waking the ghost of Steve Jobs, is the ability to exclude a running app from the Dock. You no longer have to stare at every app just because it happens to be open.
**Dock Profiles** \- I work in multiple contexts. Some of my time is spent testing software and writing reviews. For that, I need quick access to a file manager, an uninstaller, Activity Monitor, Drafts, Obsidian, my Downloads folder, the folder where I keep rough drafts, the folder where I keep archives, and Reddit.
DockDoor Pro profiles can include:
* Pinned apps
* Folders
* Files
* Widgets
* URLs
* Design elements, including separators and spacers
When I switch to media management, I need a different setup: [Calibre](https://appaddict.app/post/calibre-keeps-getting-better), [Swinsian](https://appaddict.app/post/swinsian-music-app-the-answer-to-feature-bloat), [Yate](https://appaddict.app/post/i-replaced-apple-music-with-yate-swinsian-navidrome-and-an-ipod-classic-surprisingly-better), [digiKam](https://appaddict.app/post/digikam-is-replacing-apple-photos-google-photos-and-amazon-photos-for-me), & [ToyViewer](https://appaddict.app/post/toyviewer-a-preview-replacment).
When it is time to do research or just relax, I want [Inoreader](https://appaddict.app/post/inoreader-rss-gets-new-features), [FreeTube](https://appaddict.app/post/freetube-maybe-the-most-underrated-app), [Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/me), [Radarr](https://appaddict.app/post/2025-01-07), Sonarr, and websites like [Mac Menu Bar ](https://macmenubar.com/)and [AlternativeTo](https://alternativeto.net/).
DockDoor Pro gives you two ways to switch profiles. The easiest is to associate a specific app with a profile. When you open an app tied to another workflow, the Dock profile changes automatically. If you work with multiple monitors, you can also assign different Docks on a per-display basis.
One welcome feature is the ability to export Dock profiles as JSON. That makes it easy to move a setup to another Mac or keep a restorable backup in case an experiment goes sideways.
**Control Panel** \- Each Dock contains a tiny icon that opens a control panel when long-clicked. It consolidates an app launcher, profile switcher, volume slider, audio device picker, and power controls. It is a well-designed bit of UI rather than a pile of bolted-on buttons.
**File Tray** \- If you keep your Dock at the bottom of the display, scrolling on it reveals a file tray. You can drop files there temporarily, drag them back out when you need them, or send them via AirDrop directly from the tray.
**Widgets** \- DockDoor Pro also includes small widgets that add live tiles directly to the Dock, including weather and system stats. They stay compact at rest and expand with more detail on hover. They also adapt to the
https://preview.redd.it/xj7fd0c2px0h1.png?width=1251&format=png&auto=webp&s=711b2037c02bca62a80fd3197da38e5c037ae827
When the free app DockDoor was released in 2024, it was the first time I had seen a developer add window previews to the Mac Dock in much the same way that other operating system from Redmond handles them. For kicks, it also included a Windows-style application switcher, also free.
I have been [updating some older reviews](https://appaddict.app/post/dockdoor-adds-functionality-to-macos), so I went back to check on DockDoor. Not only does the original free version still exist, but the developer has also added a paid Pro version with a much larger feature set.
The splash page for DockDoor Pro puts its claim front and center:
**DockDoor Pro - The Dock macOS Deserves**
**The official native Mac dock replacement with profiles, live window previews, media controls, a file tray, magnification, and everything Apple left out.**
That is bold, but defensible.
# What It Does
The real question with any Dock utility is whether it replaces the native Dock or merely augments it. DockDoor Pro can do either. I hid the native Dock completely and did not run into any problems.
The other killer feature, and one Apple will probably never give us for fear of waking the ghost of Steve Jobs, is the ability to exclude a running app from the Dock. You no longer have to stare at every app just because it happens to be open.
**Dock Profiles** \- I work in multiple contexts. Some of my time is spent testing software and writing reviews. For that, I need quick access to a file manager, an uninstaller, Activity Monitor, Drafts, Obsidian, my Downloads folder, the folder where I keep rough drafts, the folder where I keep archives, and Reddit.
DockDoor Pro profiles can include:
* Pinned apps
* Folders
* Files
* Widgets
* URLs
* Design elements, including separators and spacers
When I switch to media management, I need a different setup: [Calibre](https://appaddict.app/post/calibre-keeps-getting-better), [Swinsian](https://appaddict.app/post/swinsian-music-app-the-answer-to-feature-bloat), [Yate](https://appaddict.app/post/i-replaced-apple-music-with-yate-swinsian-navidrome-and-an-ipod-classic-surprisingly-better), [digiKam](https://appaddict.app/post/digikam-is-replacing-apple-photos-google-photos-and-amazon-photos-for-me), & [ToyViewer](https://appaddict.app/post/toyviewer-a-preview-replacment).
When it is time to do research or just relax, I want [Inoreader](https://appaddict.app/post/inoreader-rss-gets-new-features), [FreeTube](https://appaddict.app/post/freetube-maybe-the-most-underrated-app), [Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/me), [Radarr](https://appaddict.app/post/2025-01-07), Sonarr, and websites like [Mac Menu Bar ](https://macmenubar.com/)and [AlternativeTo](https://alternativeto.net/).
DockDoor Pro gives you two ways to switch profiles. The easiest is to associate a specific app with a profile. When you open an app tied to another workflow, the Dock profile changes automatically. If you work with multiple monitors, you can also assign different Docks on a per-display basis.
One welcome feature is the ability to export Dock profiles as JSON. That makes it easy to move a setup to another Mac or keep a restorable backup in case an experiment goes sideways.
**Control Panel** \- Each Dock contains a tiny icon that opens a control panel when long-clicked. It consolidates an app launcher, profile switcher, volume slider, audio device picker, and power controls. It is a well-designed bit of UI rather than a pile of bolted-on buttons.
**File Tray** \- If you keep your Dock at the bottom of the display, scrolling on it reveals a file tray. You can drop files there temporarily, drag them back out when you need them, or send them via AirDrop directly from the tray.
**Widgets** \- DockDoor Pro also includes small widgets that add live tiles directly to the Dock, including weather and system stats. They stay compact at rest and expand with more detail on hover. They also adapt to the
Dock's design, so they do not look like afterthoughts.
The music widget is almost an app within the app. You get album art, a seek bar, and synchronized lyrics with a karaoke-style anticipation offset. Whether that is useful or just fun depends on how you work. I do not need lyrics in my Dock, but I understand the appeal.
# Customization
This is the least opinionated Dock app I have used. If you are not inclined to fiddle, it looks fine out of the box. If you like to experiment, you can control almost every visible part of the UI, including:
* Color
* Spacing
* Padding
* Background
* Shape
# Conclusion
DockDoor Pro is still in beta, and there is a warning not to use it on a mission-critical machine, so do not install it on your boss's MacBook and blame me if something gets weird. That said, I have not encountered any instability after two weeks of constant use.
This is an app best suited for power users, especially those with multi-monitor setups or workflows that shift throughout the day. If you use the same five apps all the time and do not care about customizing your workspace, you can probably skip it. But if you have ever wanted the Dock to be more useful, more contextual, and less stubbornly Apple-like, DockDoor Pro is worth a look.
**DockDoor Pro Website** \- [DockDoor Pro - Official macOS Dock Replacement](https://pro.dockdoor.net/)
**Privacy Policy** \- [DockDoor Pro | Privacy Policy & EULA](https://pro.dockdoor.net/legal/)
**Price** \- $20
https://redd.it/1tc5cnc
@macappsbackup
The music widget is almost an app within the app. You get album art, a seek bar, and synchronized lyrics with a karaoke-style anticipation offset. Whether that is useful or just fun depends on how you work. I do not need lyrics in my Dock, but I understand the appeal.
# Customization
This is the least opinionated Dock app I have used. If you are not inclined to fiddle, it looks fine out of the box. If you like to experiment, you can control almost every visible part of the UI, including:
* Color
* Spacing
* Padding
* Background
* Shape
# Conclusion
DockDoor Pro is still in beta, and there is a warning not to use it on a mission-critical machine, so do not install it on your boss's MacBook and blame me if something gets weird. That said, I have not encountered any instability after two weeks of constant use.
This is an app best suited for power users, especially those with multi-monitor setups or workflows that shift throughout the day. If you use the same five apps all the time and do not care about customizing your workspace, you can probably skip it. But if you have ever wanted the Dock to be more useful, more contextual, and less stubbornly Apple-like, DockDoor Pro is worth a look.
**DockDoor Pro Website** \- [DockDoor Pro - Official macOS Dock Replacement](https://pro.dockdoor.net/)
**Privacy Policy** \- [DockDoor Pro | Privacy Policy & EULA](https://pro.dockdoor.net/legal/)
**Price** \- $20
https://redd.it/1tc5cnc
@macappsbackup
DockDoor Pro
DockDoor Pro - Native Dock Experience for macOS
DockDoor Pro is a native dock replacement for macOS with live window previews, dock profiles, media controls, file tray, magnification, multi-monitor support, and full customization.
Is there an app to see exactly where my RAM is getting used up?
No not Activity Monitor. I have to explain what happened today. So today I was sharing my screen on a Zoom call and my cursor started moving slowly and turned into a beach ball and the call froze.
I had one browser opened with 10 tabs and 7 of them in suspended state - regular sites like Gemini, youtube, and wikipedia. On activity monitor the browser is using 609 MB of RAM but memory cleaner by Nektony shows it's using 2.74 GB of RAM. I had another browser that was just opened with no tabs and spotify app was running. That's it.
Other than that there's just background apps on the menu bar like one drive, google drive, shottr, Thock, Unclutter, Bitwarden, Raycast, and a live wallpaper app - yeah these are only using 10 MB or so of RAM each except Unclutter using around 386 MB in activity monitor and 500 MB shown in memory cleaner by Nektony, and the live wallpaper app using 192 MB in activity monitor and 600 MB shown in memory cleaner by Nektony. My question is how tf am I running out of RAM? I have 16 GB of RAM.
Is 16 GB not enough for basic use cases now? I'm not even video editing or anything. Just doing what a Macbook Neo user would do and they got only 8 GB, I have 16 GB. I just want to know where my RAM is getting used up. I don't understand the discrepancy between Nektony and activity monitor. Activity monitor's stats don't show exactly how much RAM is available and the data is hard to interpret.
https://redd.it/1tcb5n1
@macappsbackup
No not Activity Monitor. I have to explain what happened today. So today I was sharing my screen on a Zoom call and my cursor started moving slowly and turned into a beach ball and the call froze.
I had one browser opened with 10 tabs and 7 of them in suspended state - regular sites like Gemini, youtube, and wikipedia. On activity monitor the browser is using 609 MB of RAM but memory cleaner by Nektony shows it's using 2.74 GB of RAM. I had another browser that was just opened with no tabs and spotify app was running. That's it.
Other than that there's just background apps on the menu bar like one drive, google drive, shottr, Thock, Unclutter, Bitwarden, Raycast, and a live wallpaper app - yeah these are only using 10 MB or so of RAM each except Unclutter using around 386 MB in activity monitor and 500 MB shown in memory cleaner by Nektony, and the live wallpaper app using 192 MB in activity monitor and 600 MB shown in memory cleaner by Nektony. My question is how tf am I running out of RAM? I have 16 GB of RAM.
Is 16 GB not enough for basic use cases now? I'm not even video editing or anything. Just doing what a Macbook Neo user would do and they got only 8 GB, I have 16 GB. I just want to know where my RAM is getting used up. I don't understand the discrepancy between Nektony and activity monitor. Activity monitor's stats don't show exactly how much RAM is available and the data is hard to interpret.
https://redd.it/1tcb5n1
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
Getting a new Mac, looking to clean up my apps a bit. Can you help me?
Hey Y'all.
I just bought a new MBPro M5 Pro 16" and it'll be here Friday to replace my MBPro M2 Pro 14".
I have a Setapp subscription that is soon coming to an end. I'm not really a fan of setapp anymore since they've added a bunch of junk apps and AI slop thats not a lot of quality like they used to.
Instead of keeping my setapp subscription, I plan to just buy some apps outright, but before I do, I want to know if there are any better options or open source options.
Here are the apps on setapp that I currently use:
DisplayBuddy
CleanshotX (I use this a lot but I've considered shottr)
Downie
AlDente Pro (Do I even really need it?)
Permute
Presentify
Jumpdesktop (Discontinued on setapp)
Other Apps I'm using and like that I don't know if there are better/other options
Rustcast (I just replaced raycast with this.. I'm not 100% sold yet, but it does do what I need it to)
Wins (I like the way this works, I looked at dockdoor but it seems to do a lot of the same things)
Thaw (seems to work well, its one of the best I have found for stability.)
Pearcleaner (Uninstaller and updater, not really a fan of appcleaner)
Dropover Pro
itsycal
Keka (works fine, just don't know what else is out there.)
Upscayl
Homebew (I just started using this, what a wonderful way to install apps!)
Thanks for any suggestions you can help me with! Must appreciated!
https://redd.it/1tck3xl
@macappsbackup
Hey Y'all.
I just bought a new MBPro M5 Pro 16" and it'll be here Friday to replace my MBPro M2 Pro 14".
I have a Setapp subscription that is soon coming to an end. I'm not really a fan of setapp anymore since they've added a bunch of junk apps and AI slop thats not a lot of quality like they used to.
Instead of keeping my setapp subscription, I plan to just buy some apps outright, but before I do, I want to know if there are any better options or open source options.
Here are the apps on setapp that I currently use:
DisplayBuddy
CleanshotX (I use this a lot but I've considered shottr)
Downie
AlDente Pro (Do I even really need it?)
Permute
Presentify
Jumpdesktop (Discontinued on setapp)
Other Apps I'm using and like that I don't know if there are better/other options
Rustcast (I just replaced raycast with this.. I'm not 100% sold yet, but it does do what I need it to)
Wins (I like the way this works, I looked at dockdoor but it seems to do a lot of the same things)
Thaw (seems to work well, its one of the best I have found for stability.)
Pearcleaner (Uninstaller and updater, not really a fan of appcleaner)
Dropover Pro
itsycal
Keka (works fine, just don't know what else is out there.)
Upscayl
Homebew (I just started using this, what a wonderful way to install apps!)
Thanks for any suggestions you can help me with! Must appreciated!
https://redd.it/1tck3xl
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
I made a screen recorder that makes your demos look like an Apple commercial
https://redd.it/1tcrf24
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1tcrf24
@macappsbackup
I wanna become a tagging demigod. Personal recommendations?
I'd like to get on top of tag-based organization, from folders to files to pictures, etc. There are plenty of apps out there, I know, but I'm looking for personal experiences anyone might have with robust, feature rich tagging apps.
https://redd.it/1tcxpfb
@macappsbackup
I'd like to get on top of tag-based organization, from folders to files to pictures, etc. There are plenty of apps out there, I know, but I'm looking for personal experiences anyone might have with robust, feature rich tagging apps.
https://redd.it/1tcxpfb
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
What are some cool news/ Reddit/ Media reader apps?
I'm looking for a news reader app that I can follow news, Reddit, and some keywords if possible. There's so many. What are everyones favorite current apps?
https://redd.it/1td01q6
@macappsbackup
I'm looking for a news reader app that I can follow news, Reddit, and some keywords if possible. There's so many. What are everyones favorite current apps?
https://redd.it/1td01q6
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
Best local, one-time purchase, image upscaler for Mac/Windows?
I have thousands of images that I need to upscale and I am looking for a local-only solution.
Ideally I could use it on both Windows and Mac, but I am open to options that are excessive to either operating system if they are incredible.
Would be even better if it's also open source, but not a requirement.
https://redd.it/1td8f5p
@macappsbackup
I have thousands of images that I need to upscale and I am looking for a local-only solution.
Ideally I could use it on both Windows and Mac, but I am open to options that are excessive to either operating system if they are incredible.
Would be even better if it's also open source, but not a requirement.
https://redd.it/1td8f5p
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
Airspace: A Polished Fix for a macOS Friction Point
https://preview.redd.it/8gmfdm69q51h1.png?width=1322&format=png&auto=webp&s=c73d5746e33f2f819606d12936845df21b30d1b8
Making a decision about the right price for an app has to be one of the hardest parts of releasing something new.
Some of the most versatile and useful apps in the Mac ecosystem are priced absurdly low. I am looking at you, [BetterTouchTool](https://appaddict.app/post/better-touch-tool-favorite). On the other hand, we have all seen apps with plenty of competitors that still carry what I consider an absurdly high price. My favorite example is the clipboard manager, [Paste](https://pasteapp.io/pricing).
In reality, every software purchase comes down to what we value. Some people have strict requirements around aesthetics and would rather pay for polish than use something more functional. I think the ebook manager Calibre fits that description perfectly. I love it and use it every day for its incredible versatility, but it certainly is not easy on the eyes.
Two of my favorite notch apps show how wide the pricing spread can be. [Droppy](https://appaddict.app/post/new-droppy-release-is-a-full-featured-utility-suite), which is not just a notch app but a full suite of utilities, costs 10 euro. Dynamic Lake, another app I like in this space, costs 40% more, still a fair price. It is well thought out and nicely designed, but it is much more narrowly focused on the notch.
There are personal factors, too. I live in the United States. I am retired. I have disposable income that I dedicate to buying software. I compensate by driving a 2005 Toyota and not playing golf like some of my contemporaries. But there are plenty of tech enthusiasts in less prosperous countries, students on tight budgets, and people for whom software pricing is a much more serious decision point than it is for me.
Here is a case in point.
[Airspace](https://hazels.garden/airspace), an app I downloaded today, has a lot going for it. It removes a classic Apple friction point by letting you name your virtual desktops, customize their appearance, and assign keyboard shortcuts to jump between them.
# Features
**Custom Naming**
Instead of Desktop 1, Desktop 2, and so on, you can have Writing, Development, Social, or whatever names fit the way you actually work.
**Visual Personalization**
You can choose custom colors for the menu bar indicator and switcher menu, making different Spaces easier to recognize at a glance.
**User-Defined Shortcuts**
You can assign your own shortcuts to switch between Spaces. If your writing tools live on Desktop 3, make `Cmd+Option+3` the shortcut that takes you there.
**Multi-Monitor Support**
If you use a Mac mini or a laptop with an external display, you will appreciate that Airspace works across displays. It also handles selected full-screen apps, with one important exception noted below.
**HUD Overlay**
The current release supports a heads-up display switcher that shows your custom Space names and colors.
# Selling Points
* No AI used in development, backed by documentation such as GitHub history, Figma files, and browser logs. Whether that matters to you depends on your stance on AI-assisted development, but it is refreshing to see the work documented transparently.
* Full-featured seven-day trial.
* Fully sandboxed and App Store approved, while still delivering the core functionality many users want.
* No tracking or data collection.
# Caveats
* Because of public API limitations, Airspace does not track Spaces created by clicking the green traffic-light full-screen button. Those Spaces exist outside the normal Space registry and are not visible to Airspace. The developer is upfront about this.
* Onboarding is a process, not an event. If you use as many Spaces as I do, it takes a few minutes to get Airspace configured.
* There is no Mission Control integration. Custom names will not appear in Mission Control. That is an Apple limitation; Airspace cannot modify that UI. The workaround is to use Airspace's own menu bar indicator and HUD
https://preview.redd.it/8gmfdm69q51h1.png?width=1322&format=png&auto=webp&s=c73d5746e33f2f819606d12936845df21b30d1b8
Making a decision about the right price for an app has to be one of the hardest parts of releasing something new.
Some of the most versatile and useful apps in the Mac ecosystem are priced absurdly low. I am looking at you, [BetterTouchTool](https://appaddict.app/post/better-touch-tool-favorite). On the other hand, we have all seen apps with plenty of competitors that still carry what I consider an absurdly high price. My favorite example is the clipboard manager, [Paste](https://pasteapp.io/pricing).
In reality, every software purchase comes down to what we value. Some people have strict requirements around aesthetics and would rather pay for polish than use something more functional. I think the ebook manager Calibre fits that description perfectly. I love it and use it every day for its incredible versatility, but it certainly is not easy on the eyes.
Two of my favorite notch apps show how wide the pricing spread can be. [Droppy](https://appaddict.app/post/new-droppy-release-is-a-full-featured-utility-suite), which is not just a notch app but a full suite of utilities, costs 10 euro. Dynamic Lake, another app I like in this space, costs 40% more, still a fair price. It is well thought out and nicely designed, but it is much more narrowly focused on the notch.
There are personal factors, too. I live in the United States. I am retired. I have disposable income that I dedicate to buying software. I compensate by driving a 2005 Toyota and not playing golf like some of my contemporaries. But there are plenty of tech enthusiasts in less prosperous countries, students on tight budgets, and people for whom software pricing is a much more serious decision point than it is for me.
Here is a case in point.
[Airspace](https://hazels.garden/airspace), an app I downloaded today, has a lot going for it. It removes a classic Apple friction point by letting you name your virtual desktops, customize their appearance, and assign keyboard shortcuts to jump between them.
# Features
**Custom Naming**
Instead of Desktop 1, Desktop 2, and so on, you can have Writing, Development, Social, or whatever names fit the way you actually work.
**Visual Personalization**
You can choose custom colors for the menu bar indicator and switcher menu, making different Spaces easier to recognize at a glance.
**User-Defined Shortcuts**
You can assign your own shortcuts to switch between Spaces. If your writing tools live on Desktop 3, make `Cmd+Option+3` the shortcut that takes you there.
**Multi-Monitor Support**
If you use a Mac mini or a laptop with an external display, you will appreciate that Airspace works across displays. It also handles selected full-screen apps, with one important exception noted below.
**HUD Overlay**
The current release supports a heads-up display switcher that shows your custom Space names and colors.
# Selling Points
* No AI used in development, backed by documentation such as GitHub history, Figma files, and browser logs. Whether that matters to you depends on your stance on AI-assisted development, but it is refreshing to see the work documented transparently.
* Full-featured seven-day trial.
* Fully sandboxed and App Store approved, while still delivering the core functionality many users want.
* No tracking or data collection.
# Caveats
* Because of public API limitations, Airspace does not track Spaces created by clicking the green traffic-light full-screen button. Those Spaces exist outside the normal Space registry and are not visible to Airspace. The developer is upfront about this.
* Onboarding is a process, not an event. If you use as many Spaces as I do, it takes a few minutes to get Airspace configured.
* There is no Mission Control integration. Custom names will not appear in Mission Control. That is an Apple limitation; Airspace cannot modify that UI. The workaround is to use Airspace's own menu bar indicator and HUD
instead.
# Similar Apps and Solutions
You can achieve some of what Airspace does with a [Hammerspoon](https://www.hammerspoon.org/) script or a [Keyboard Maestro](https://www.keyboardmaestro.com/main/) macro. There are also direct competitors like [Spaceman](https://www.jaysce.dev/projects/spaceman) and [Contexts](https://contexts.co).
[Aerospace](https://www.josean.com/posts/how-to-setup-aerospace-tiling-window-manager), a tiling window manager beloved by people who like to fiddle, offers virtual workspace emulation that is similar in spirit, but it is not a true Spaces replacement.
# Details
* Developer's website: [https://hazels.garden/airspace](https://hazels.garden/airspace)
* Privacy policy: [https://hazels.garden/privacy](https://hazels.garden/privacy)
* Price: $9.99
# Bottom Line
Airspace is not trying to reinvent window management on the Mac. It's not a window manager at all.It is trying to make Apple's existing Spaces feature more usable, more readable, and faster to navigate. That is a narrow job, but it is a real one.
At $9.99, the price feels fair to me, especially if you already rely on Spaces as part of your daily workflow. If you only use one or two desktops, this probably will not change your life. But if you live across several named work contexts, Airspace turns a vague row of numbered desktops into something much closer to an actual workspace system.
https://redd.it/1td95l0
@macappsbackup
# Similar Apps and Solutions
You can achieve some of what Airspace does with a [Hammerspoon](https://www.hammerspoon.org/) script or a [Keyboard Maestro](https://www.keyboardmaestro.com/main/) macro. There are also direct competitors like [Spaceman](https://www.jaysce.dev/projects/spaceman) and [Contexts](https://contexts.co).
[Aerospace](https://www.josean.com/posts/how-to-setup-aerospace-tiling-window-manager), a tiling window manager beloved by people who like to fiddle, offers virtual workspace emulation that is similar in spirit, but it is not a true Spaces replacement.
# Details
* Developer's website: [https://hazels.garden/airspace](https://hazels.garden/airspace)
* Privacy policy: [https://hazels.garden/privacy](https://hazels.garden/privacy)
* Price: $9.99
# Bottom Line
Airspace is not trying to reinvent window management on the Mac. It's not a window manager at all.It is trying to make Apple's existing Spaces feature more usable, more readable, and faster to navigate. That is a narrow job, but it is a real one.
At $9.99, the price feels fair to me, especially if you already rely on Spaces as part of your daily workflow. If you only use one or two desktops, this probably will not change your life. But if you live across several named work contexts, Airspace turns a vague row of numbered desktops into something much closer to an actual workspace system.
https://redd.it/1td95l0
@macappsbackup
Keyboardmaestro
Keyboard Maestro 11.0.4: Work Faster with Macros for macOS
Keyboard Maestro is the leading software for macOS automation. It will increase business productivity by using macros (or short cuts) with simple keystrokes.
[OS] Ice: The unmanaged menu bar manager that is still outperforming the competition
Hey everyone, for this week’s **Silicon Thread** feature, I took a deep dive into the menu bar ecosystem.
There are a lot of new apps out there, but I wanted to talk about **Ice**. I know the community is aware that it’s no longer actively managed, but after extensive testing on macOS 26.4, it is still the slickest, most minimal option available.
**Here is the technical breakdown:**
* **The Good:** The handling is incredibly easy, and the native macOS aesthetic is unmatched. Most importantly, the menu bar stability is flawless.
* **The Glitches:** You might experience a few minor app-level glitches when configuring settings, but the actual menu bar functionality never breaks.
* **The Successor:** I know a lot of people have moved to the actively managed fork, **Thaw**. I currently have Thaw in the testing lab and will be doing a full comparison soon, but I want to give Ice its flowers for remaining rock-solid despite the lack of updates.
**Transparency Note:** I am an independent explorer. I have no affiliation with any developers and do not do paid promotions. My goal is just to document the real user experience.
If you want to read my full breakdown of Ice (and see the community ratings), I’ve got the full review posted here: [Silicon Thread Ice Review](https://siliconthread.civicease.systems/reviews/ice)
Ice Github Link: [Ice Github](https://github.com/jordanbaird/Ice)
Otherwise, let me know below—are you still running the original Ice, or have you already migrated to Thaw? or any other menu bar app?
https://redd.it/1tdlqeb
@macappsbackup
Hey everyone, for this week’s **Silicon Thread** feature, I took a deep dive into the menu bar ecosystem.
There are a lot of new apps out there, but I wanted to talk about **Ice**. I know the community is aware that it’s no longer actively managed, but after extensive testing on macOS 26.4, it is still the slickest, most minimal option available.
**Here is the technical breakdown:**
* **The Good:** The handling is incredibly easy, and the native macOS aesthetic is unmatched. Most importantly, the menu bar stability is flawless.
* **The Glitches:** You might experience a few minor app-level glitches when configuring settings, but the actual menu bar functionality never breaks.
* **The Successor:** I know a lot of people have moved to the actively managed fork, **Thaw**. I currently have Thaw in the testing lab and will be doing a full comparison soon, but I want to give Ice its flowers for remaining rock-solid despite the lack of updates.
**Transparency Note:** I am an independent explorer. I have no affiliation with any developers and do not do paid promotions. My goal is just to document the real user experience.
If you want to read my full breakdown of Ice (and see the community ratings), I’ve got the full review posted here: [Silicon Thread Ice Review](https://siliconthread.civicease.systems/reviews/ice)
Ice Github Link: [Ice Github](https://github.com/jordanbaird/Ice)
Otherwise, let me know below—are you still running the original Ice, or have you already migrated to Thaw? or any other menu bar app?
https://redd.it/1tdlqeb
@macappsbackup
Silicon Thread
Ice Review | Silicon Thread
Silicon Thread discovers and reviews under-the-radar Mac apps built by independent developers. Bridging the gap between solo Reddit builders and Mac power users.
Mac menu bar app that watches any part of your screen and alerts you when something changes
Hi everyone!
Today I'm introducing **ScreenAlert** — a tiny Mac menu bar app I built to stop myself from babysitting my screen all day. It watches any region you pick, reads text out loud, and alerts you the moment something changes. I'd love to share it with you and hear what you think.
**Problem**
I kept getting stuck staring at my Mac. Waiting for a stock price to hit a target. Refreshing a build dashboard to see if it turned green. Watching a live score because the site had no notifications. If the info was on screen but the app didn't push a notification, I had to keep looking.
So I built ScreenAlert. You drag a box around any part of your screen and you can:
* Have it **read the text out loud** so you can listen instead of looking (works on any app, even ones with no TTS support)
* Set a condition ("number greater than 100", "text changed", "image changed") and get pinged when it happens
* Fire a macOS Shortcut on alert — webhooks, notifications, automations, anything
It uses Apple's Vision OCR, so it reads text from literally any app. Everything runs locally. No accounts, no cloud, no telemetry. The text on your screen never leaves your Mac.
**Comparison**
* **TextSniper** is great for one-shot OCR grabs, but it stops there. No monitoring, no conditions, no read-aloud, no alerts. ScreenAlert does the OCR part *and* speaks it *and* keeps watching the region for you.
* **CleanShot X** has OCR baked in too, but it's a screenshot tool first. It won't read selected text aloud or tell you "ping me when this number goes above X". ScreenAlert is built for the watching and listening part — conditions, sounds, voice readouts, Shortcuts triggers, window tracking that follows a window even when it moves behind others.
Basically, if the other tools are "read this once", ScreenAlert is "keep an eye on this for me, and read it to me while you're at it".
**Pricing**
One-time $4.99 on the Mac App Store. No subscription. No IAP. Buy it once, it's yours.
Link: [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/screenalert/id6761373715?mt=12](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/screenalert/id6761373715?mt=12)
Happy to answer questions or take feature requests. Built it because I needed it, so feedback is welcome.
https://preview.redd.it/u8rg13jwx91h1.png?width=1440&format=png&auto=webp&s=54bf42b0544a95987275c2f87654c55d0821a465
https://preview.redd.it/3ruvuuqxx91h1.png?width=1440&format=png&auto=webp&s=cd7949d6346b62f6e58554a6aefa8e28f02cf44c
https://redd.it/1tdrsjf
@macappsbackup
Hi everyone!
Today I'm introducing **ScreenAlert** — a tiny Mac menu bar app I built to stop myself from babysitting my screen all day. It watches any region you pick, reads text out loud, and alerts you the moment something changes. I'd love to share it with you and hear what you think.
**Problem**
I kept getting stuck staring at my Mac. Waiting for a stock price to hit a target. Refreshing a build dashboard to see if it turned green. Watching a live score because the site had no notifications. If the info was on screen but the app didn't push a notification, I had to keep looking.
So I built ScreenAlert. You drag a box around any part of your screen and you can:
* Have it **read the text out loud** so you can listen instead of looking (works on any app, even ones with no TTS support)
* Set a condition ("number greater than 100", "text changed", "image changed") and get pinged when it happens
* Fire a macOS Shortcut on alert — webhooks, notifications, automations, anything
It uses Apple's Vision OCR, so it reads text from literally any app. Everything runs locally. No accounts, no cloud, no telemetry. The text on your screen never leaves your Mac.
**Comparison**
* **TextSniper** is great for one-shot OCR grabs, but it stops there. No monitoring, no conditions, no read-aloud, no alerts. ScreenAlert does the OCR part *and* speaks it *and* keeps watching the region for you.
* **CleanShot X** has OCR baked in too, but it's a screenshot tool first. It won't read selected text aloud or tell you "ping me when this number goes above X". ScreenAlert is built for the watching and listening part — conditions, sounds, voice readouts, Shortcuts triggers, window tracking that follows a window even when it moves behind others.
Basically, if the other tools are "read this once", ScreenAlert is "keep an eye on this for me, and read it to me while you're at it".
**Pricing**
One-time $4.99 on the Mac App Store. No subscription. No IAP. Buy it once, it's yours.
Link: [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/screenalert/id6761373715?mt=12](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/screenalert/id6761373715?mt=12)
Happy to answer questions or take feature requests. Built it because I needed it, so feedback is welcome.
https://preview.redd.it/u8rg13jwx91h1.png?width=1440&format=png&auto=webp&s=54bf42b0544a95987275c2f87654c55d0821a465
https://preview.redd.it/3ruvuuqxx91h1.png?width=1440&format=png&auto=webp&s=cd7949d6346b62f6e58554a6aefa8e28f02cf44c
https://redd.it/1tdrsjf
@macappsbackup
App Store
ScreenAlert App - App Store
Download ScreenAlert by Georgios Trigonakis on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like ScreenAlert.
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I made an app to manage running tons of terminal windows at once. Plus improving the terminal experience.
https://redd.it/1tdwjha
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1tdwjha
@macappsbackup
ReTab 3.0 — I rebuilt my Safari tab switcher to feel like macOS Cmd+Tab
2 years ago I shipped ReTab — a Safari extension that flips between
your two most recent tabs with Cmd+E (customizable). The most common
request I got back: "make it behave like Cmd+Tab — tap to switch,
hold to cycle through history."
3.0 is that rebuild. One shortcut, two gestures:
\- Tap Cmd+E → instantly hop between your two most recent tabs.
\- Hold Cmd+E → a Cmd+Tab-style picker fades in over the page
showing your recent tabs and favicons. Tap E to walk the highlight
forward; hold Shift to walk it backwards; release the modifier to
switch.
https://reddit.com/link/1te363h/video/mil69q3b3c1h1/player
Works on Mac, iPad, and iPhone — one purchase covers all three.
Most Safari tab utilities are Mac-only; ReTab is the only Cmd+Tab-style
cycle picker I know of that runs across the full Apple lineup. Built
on Manifest V3 with a service-worker background, so it idles to zero
memory and zero battery until the moment you press the shortcut.
What's new in 3.0:
\- Customize the shortcut in Safari Settings → Extensions on Safari 26+
(no Karabiner needed).
\- Click the toolbar icon for the same instant hop, no keyboard required.
\- Closing a tab returns you to your most recently active tab, not
whatever neighbor Safari picks. Toggleable.
\- Keep track of up to 9 tabs history.
Privacy: Everything stays on your device. Safari shows the
boilerplate "can read webpages / see browsing history" warning at
install — script access only draws the picker on your current tab,
and tab access only reads titles and icons for the list. No analytics,
no remote calls, no tracking.
Pricing: $1.99 one-time, universal — one buy unlocks Mac, iPad,
and iPhone. Existing customers get 3.0 free as a normal App Store
update.
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/retab-safari-tab-switcher/id6736950080
Built solo. Happy to chat about UX decisions, the MV3 service-worker
rewrite, edge cases (Safari's modifier-release detection is a fun
rabbit hole), or what y'all want next - 3.1 is being reviewed by App Store right now and already addressed users' suggestions (https://www.reddit.com/r/Safari/comments/1tbdwca/comment/olof6m7 & https://www.reddit.com/r/Safari/comments/1g6rzb4/comment/olu8pvl) to make arrow key & mouse selections work, as well as supporting multiple windows ;)
https://redd.it/1te363h
@macappsbackup
2 years ago I shipped ReTab — a Safari extension that flips between
your two most recent tabs with Cmd+E (customizable). The most common
request I got back: "make it behave like Cmd+Tab — tap to switch,
hold to cycle through history."
3.0 is that rebuild. One shortcut, two gestures:
\- Tap Cmd+E → instantly hop between your two most recent tabs.
\- Hold Cmd+E → a Cmd+Tab-style picker fades in over the page
showing your recent tabs and favicons. Tap E to walk the highlight
forward; hold Shift to walk it backwards; release the modifier to
switch.
https://reddit.com/link/1te363h/video/mil69q3b3c1h1/player
Works on Mac, iPad, and iPhone — one purchase covers all three.
Most Safari tab utilities are Mac-only; ReTab is the only Cmd+Tab-style
cycle picker I know of that runs across the full Apple lineup. Built
on Manifest V3 with a service-worker background, so it idles to zero
memory and zero battery until the moment you press the shortcut.
What's new in 3.0:
\- Customize the shortcut in Safari Settings → Extensions on Safari 26+
(no Karabiner needed).
\- Click the toolbar icon for the same instant hop, no keyboard required.
\- Closing a tab returns you to your most recently active tab, not
whatever neighbor Safari picks. Toggleable.
\- Keep track of up to 9 tabs history.
Privacy: Everything stays on your device. Safari shows the
boilerplate "can read webpages / see browsing history" warning at
install — script access only draws the picker on your current tab,
and tab access only reads titles and icons for the list. No analytics,
no remote calls, no tracking.
Pricing: $1.99 one-time, universal — one buy unlocks Mac, iPad,
and iPhone. Existing customers get 3.0 free as a normal App Store
update.
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/retab-safari-tab-switcher/id6736950080
Built solo. Happy to chat about UX decisions, the MV3 service-worker
rewrite, edge cases (Safari's modifier-release detection is a fun
rabbit hole), or what y'all want next - 3.1 is being reviewed by App Store right now and already addressed users' suggestions (https://www.reddit.com/r/Safari/comments/1tbdwca/comment/olof6m7 & https://www.reddit.com/r/Safari/comments/1g6rzb4/comment/olu8pvl) to make arrow key & mouse selections work, as well as supporting multiple windows ;)
https://redd.it/1te363h
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the Safari community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the Safari community
Sidebar Calendar, 1 Year and 70 Updates Later
Hey r/MacApps, my name is Gabe and I'm the developer of Sidebar Calendar: an app I made to help myself stay on schedule. But this post isn't for promotion (I mean if you are interested please check it out!!). This post is mainly for my fellow app devs.
I've been working on Sidebar Calendar since May of 2025. I've pushed 70 updates to the App Store so that's roughly 1.3 per week for a year straight. I want to write (rant?) a bit about my experience.
I know this is an unfathomably dead horse at this point, but LLMs have been a paradigm shift for app dev. On one hand it empowers people to create the app they've always wanted without needing the perquisite programming skills. But that's also the very thing that can stink about it.
If you downloaded an app back in 2020 it was probably created by someone genuinely interested in development. They learned a programming language to create it, they spent hours focusing on the finer details, there was just a uniqueness to their creation (a warmth maybe?). There were definitely a fair share of stinkers back then too, but for the most part if someone put in the effort to publish an app it was worth taking a look at.
But we are now living in a different world. Most apps stink now.
I woke up one day and found that my app Sidebar Calendar was slop-cloned. I'm not going to go into the details of who the developer is or what the app name is, because I'm not interested in calling them out like that publicly. Needless to say, they found my app and used an LLM to clone it. It's blatant. It's perhaps the most unapologetic instance of plagiarism that I have ever seen.
Looking at the screenshots of their app, it makes me think a lot about the future of app development. It's a cheap clone and reeks of LLM generated slop. But it exists! It's on the App Store! And LLMs are only getting better...
I don't know. Not sure where we go from here. Wishing you all the best,
Gabe
https://redd.it/1te7q2d
@macappsbackup
Hey r/MacApps, my name is Gabe and I'm the developer of Sidebar Calendar: an app I made to help myself stay on schedule. But this post isn't for promotion (I mean if you are interested please check it out!!). This post is mainly for my fellow app devs.
I've been working on Sidebar Calendar since May of 2025. I've pushed 70 updates to the App Store so that's roughly 1.3 per week for a year straight. I want to write (rant?) a bit about my experience.
I know this is an unfathomably dead horse at this point, but LLMs have been a paradigm shift for app dev. On one hand it empowers people to create the app they've always wanted without needing the perquisite programming skills. But that's also the very thing that can stink about it.
If you downloaded an app back in 2020 it was probably created by someone genuinely interested in development. They learned a programming language to create it, they spent hours focusing on the finer details, there was just a uniqueness to their creation (a warmth maybe?). There were definitely a fair share of stinkers back then too, but for the most part if someone put in the effort to publish an app it was worth taking a look at.
But we are now living in a different world. Most apps stink now.
I woke up one day and found that my app Sidebar Calendar was slop-cloned. I'm not going to go into the details of who the developer is or what the app name is, because I'm not interested in calling them out like that publicly. Needless to say, they found my app and used an LLM to clone it. It's blatant. It's perhaps the most unapologetic instance of plagiarism that I have ever seen.
Looking at the screenshots of their app, it makes me think a lot about the future of app development. It's a cheap clone and reeks of LLM generated slop. But it exists! It's on the App Store! And LLMs are only getting better...
I don't know. Not sure where we go from here. Wishing you all the best,
Gabe
https://redd.it/1te7q2d
@macappsbackup
App Store
Sidebar Calendar App - App Store
Download Sidebar Calendar by Gabriel Catalfo on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like Sidebar Calendar.
This media is not supported in your browser
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Upgrading the Mac version of Sapling, our 3D scanning/photogrammetry app
https://redd.it/1teg39s
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1teg39s
@macappsbackup
[OS] AndroidFileSync: Free macOS app to transfer files between your Mac and Android wirelessly/USB — open source, no cloud
https://redd.it/1tekizz
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1tekizz
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit: [OS] AndroidFileSync: Free macOS app to transfer files between your Mac and Android wirelessly/USB…
Explore this post and more from the macapps community