Proposal: give the start menu an Omarchy-native visual language

[jamesyork-prog]

Problem

The native start menu is clear and functional, but its System Settings-style cards and rounded Aqua controls create a visual handoff before the VM starts. For a project whose appeal is the cohesive Omarchy experience, the launcher could feel like the first screen of Omarchy rather than a separate Mac utility.

Proposed direction

Bring the visual language of omarchy.org into the existing native AppKit launcher:

• use Omarchy's Tokyo Night palette and high-contrast status colors
• use compact monospaced typography, square geometry, terminal-style section labels, and bracketed state controls
• replace the most visibly Aqua-styled buttons, toggles, and selectors with a small set of reusable Omarchy controls
• keep the native macOS window, traffic lights, scroll view, file panels, permission prompts, and destructive alerts

The custom-control boundary matters: custom controls should be used only where native Aqua styling conflicts with the Omarchy design. They still need keyboard focus, VoiceOver labels, hover/press/disabled states, sufficient contrast, and reduced-motion behavior.

Suggested implementation slices

1. Add semantic theme tokens and reusable button/toggle/picker controls.
2. Restyle the start-menu hierarchy, permission rows, and configuration sections without changing VM behavior.
3. Add presentation tests for theme tokens, control state, focus/accessibility labels, fixed width, and scroll/titlebar clipping.

This should stay separate from compute, storage, and first-boot behavior so the visual work can be reviewed independently.

Working prototype

I have a working native prototype in my fork:

• themed start menu
• reusable branded controls

If this direction fits Try Omarchy, I would be happy to break the prototype into the smaller reviewable PRs above rather than sending one large visual rewrite.