Switcher for macOS

Switcher is a native macOS app that turns regular app windows into a dedicated sidebar so your communication and work context stays visible while you focus.

Current version: v1.1.0

Why this helps productivity

Most productivity loss comes from context switching:

• You jump between coding/design/docs and Slack/Email/Teams.
• Important messages disappear behind full-size windows.
• You lose time reopening, resizing, and rearranging apps.

Switcher solves this by keeping key windows attached to a screen edge in a stable layout. You keep a persistent "communication lane" while continuing deep work in the rest of the screen.

How this helps you stay on top of communication and work

• Keep chat, ticket queue, inbox, or notes visible while working.
• Reduce alt-tab friction and window hunting.
• Maintain a repeatable workspace layout across sessions.
• React faster to updates without breaking flow.
• Keep up to three apps stacked on one side for triage workflows.

Current capabilities

• Native macOS app (SwiftUI + AppKit + Accessibility APIs)
• Menu bar utility workflow
• Pick target from installed apps (/Applications, /System/Applications, ~/Applications) or running windows
• Pin up to 3 apps stacked on one side
• Resizable sidebar width with per-app persistence
• Pinned-app manager with focus, reorder, unpin, move-left/right, and show/hide controls
• Choose left/right edge and display
• Auto-launch selected app if not already running
• Smooth push-in / pull-out sidebar motion
• Edge toggle handle on the sidebar boundary
• Optional automatic open/close by edge hover
• Optional auto-pin by dragging a window to the screen edge and holding
• Per-app persistence for edge, display, and width defaults
• Launch at login toggle
• Global hotkey: Control + Option + S opens the pin flow when idle and toggles the active sidebar when pinned
• Blue floating button mode (for selected apps):
  • Click to pin/unpin that window
  • Click and hold to choose Place on Left or Place on Right

Requirements

• macOS 14+
• Swift 6.2+
• Full Xcode with XCTest support for running tests
• Accessibility permission enabled for Switcher

Build and run

git clone https://github.com/KSHITIZ6341/Switcher.git
cd Switcher
swift test
swift run Switcher

swift test requires a full Xcode toolchain, not just Command Line Tools. Check the active toolchain with:

xcode-select -p
xcodebuild -version

If tests fail with no such module 'XCTest' or unable to find utility "xctest", install Xcode and select it:

sudo xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer

Alternative launch after build:

swift build
open "$(swift build --show-bin-path)/Switcher"

For distributable .app builds, signing, notarization, and release checklist details, see RELEASING.md.

First-time setup

1. Launch Switcher.
2. Grant Accessibility permission when prompted.
3. Open Switcher and choose an installed app or running window.
4. Pin an app/window to the preferred edge/display.

Recommended workflow for communication-heavy work

1. Pin communication tools (Slack/Teams/Email) to the right side.
2. Use center/main screen area for focused tasks (coding, writing, design).
3. Keep alerts visible without switching context every few minutes.
4. Unpin/re-pin quickly as priorities change.
5. Use long-press on blue button when you want to move the sidebar side.

Notes and limitations

• True system-level always-on-top for arbitrary third-party windows is not reliably available via public APIs.
• Switcher uses best-effort geometry enforcement and bring-forward behavior.
• If a pinned window closes, that window is removed from the sidebar session; the Switcher app itself stays running.
• Launch-at-login uses SMAppService.mainApp; unsigned dev binaries may have login-item limitations until packaged/notarized.

Open source

Switcher is open source under the MIT License.

Contributions are welcome. Read CONTRIBUTING.md before opening a pull request, follow the Code of Conduct, and report security issues through the process in SECURITY.md.