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Ask HN: What macOS apps/programs do you use daily and recommend?

183 points by 0bsolete ↗ HN
I'm converting my unused gaming PC into a NAS/Docker container server and my personal device will now be a MacBook Air.

I've got Magnet for easier window management, otherwise not much else and looking for recommendations on other apps to check out.

So, what applications do you use daily on MacOS and why do you love it?

264 comments

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coldtea
Alfred, quick task launcher and more

iAWriter, lightweight writing-focused text-editor

Little Snitch, network monitor, app firewall

tripplyons
nix-darwin and home-manager are a great way to manage installed apps and configurations on a Mac. I have slowly been moving everything into my configs.
dave84
Things 3, really polished todo/personal task manager app. I also use on iOS and Apple Watch. Blackhole, sound routing e.g recording os audio when screen recording.
yqiang
Craft - it's a nice note taking app with great sync. I use it on my Mac and iPhone daily.

Fork - one of the better git GUIs.

Rectangle - open source app to manage window layouts

chem83
Rectangle, MonitorControl
smilebot
Spectacle for window management. Clipy for clipboard history. Flux for managing color temp.
schmeichel
If your into the tiling window manager experience, I would highly recommend looking into yabai + skhd + Sketchybar

- https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai - https://github.com/koekeishiya/skhd - https://github.com/FelixKratz/SketchyBar

Some honorable mentions: Hammerspoon - Unlock insane levels of configuration/automation (https://github.com/Hammerspoon/hammerspoon) Raycast - Spotlight search replacement (https://www.raycast.com/) LuLu Firewall - An amazing FOSS firewall (https://github.com/objective-see/LuLu)

salzig
yabal requires quite some privileges. Did you check out https://github.com/nikitabobko/AeroSpace ?
gedy
FYI AeroSpace is nice but can't handle apps with tabs, like Finder. This is a non-starter issue for me at least.
tra3
Elevated privileges for yabai are optional, it works just fine without disabling SIP.
kingkongjaffa
Rectangle - just works window manager

Owly - stop sleep / keep screen on, like caffeine app from years ago

iterm2 - terminal that looks nice and just works, using zsh and oh-myzsh for basic theming.

I user Nord color scheme everywhere https://www.nordtheme.com/ports

Calamitous
Came here to recommend rectangle and iterm.
yzydserd
I’m happy with Amphetamine as my Caffeine replacement but will try Owly out of interest.
mathisd
- Arc Browser

- Typora : a markdown editor

- Flux : screen color temperature adjuster

- Rectangle : window management

- Transmission : torrent downloader

- Pika : color picker

- IINA : video player

- Quickshade : to go below minimal luminosity

- The Unarchiver : for unsupported compressed file

yamilg
I'm very happy with qBittorrent, in case you want to try something different.
swah
Raycast + any terminal + any editor in general
afloatboat
Raycast

- Replaces Spotlight for opening applications

- Replaces Magnet for window management, same features but don’t have to run a separate app now.

- keeps a clipboard history

- allows me to convert colours and units

- integrates with my calendar to show me upcoming meetings, shows them in my menu bar and lets me join them with one click

- allows me to prevent my Mac from sleeping (for certain durations) with caffeinate command

- has a variety of plugins available

Probably forgetting a lot of things I use it for, but even without the premium features I use it all the time.

FractalHQ
I came here to scream Raycast… but this is a great breakdown. Raycast replaces _so many_ apps (and even web browser functionality) for me, and I’m not even on the Pro tier.

To your list, I would add app shortcuts / key commands / quick links / snippets / code image generators (optically from selection) to name a few.

TheRealWatson
I wish the Pro version wasn't subscription based. I'd pay a one time cost even if they dropped the stuff that needs server support (AI, Sync, whatever).
CharlesW
Please send them that feedback! I did, and I hope they don’t mind me sharing their response:

  Thanks for reaching out and for the feedback.

  Pricing, like everything else at Raycast, is something we will continuously evaluate and try to balance between what is best for our users and also for us as a company. And on this subject we are indeed looking into the possibility of offering a cheaper Pro Plan (lite version) subscription without AI for example or even offering a lifetime license with additional benefits outside the app. So more on this subject to come soon.

  Best,

  —
  Daniel Sequeira
  Engineering Manager at Raycast
danpalmer
I wish the Pro separated AI and everything else. I can’t use the AI stuff at work for contractual reasons, but it’s also clear that most of the cost goes into that. I’m not paying $10/m for longer clipboard history, but I’d probably pay $50 one off for all the local-only bits.

Problem is that they’re VC backed and you don’t get SaaS valuations on selling a ton of single-purchase software.

danpalmer
I was a big Quicksilver user. I was a big Alfred user (from literal day 1). I’m now a big Raycast user. In fact Raycast is the only one where I’ve developed my own extensions (beyond basic toy scripts), the extension model is very good (even if distribution is iffy).
SebastianKra
Also, it has by far the best plugin system I've ever seen. It combines all the best practices from Web-Development with their own custom React-reconciler.

You can write fairly sophisticated UIs with less effort than for a shell script. If a FOSS version of this ever takes off, it could have the potential to replace terminal-UIs outright.

jamil7
It's good but VC backed. Also the actual file search is really bad.
aosaigh
Is Raycast better than Alfred? Or mostly the same?
wlonkly
Tough question. Alfred never really clicked for me, Raycast clicked right away, but I can't put my finger on why.
lycopodiopsida
IMO No. Raycast:

- Took VC money and pushes for subscription instead of a clear payment model.

- Rides the AI Hype train.

- Is still not able to handle file workflows properly.

- Alfred workflows are easier to write and to debug due to workflow editor, you have to be a web developer to find the proposition of writing what is basically a small react app a good one.

- Also, IMO, not very fast, consumes a lot of resources and has a clumsy UX due to using stateful multistep apps.

I would always prefer Alfred to Raycast, but I am stuck with Launchbar which is still the Launcher with most smooth workflow for me. The whole <Object><Action> paradigm is just so fast - select something, tab, match an app with 2 keystrokes-enter -> Opens in app. Works on text, files, whatever.

dinkleberg
Yeah the fact that the first thing I see on their landing page is about AI has me peacing out.
jdmoreira
Proxyman

Just a great mitm tool that I use for work but also for just looking at random apis that I come across on my day-to-day web use. I just love it, you can do so much with it.

jen729w
MindNode is a delightful mind mapping app.
danaris
LaunchBar, whose primary purpose isn't nearly as necessary since Spotlight mostly took up that functionality (can you tell I've been using it for a while?), but provides both very quick access to a simple calculator, and a pretty robust clipboard manager.

HiDock, which automatically switches my Dock between left-edge (when I'm using my laptop on its own) and bottom-edge (when I have it docked with the much larger screen on my desk).

iStatMenus, which makes it vastly easier to tell when my Bluetooth mice and keyboards need charging.

Fluor, which automatically switches my function keys between their macOS "media/feature key" setting and standard function keys based on app (primarily so I can use them as intended in games like Final Fantasy XIV).

MacPorts, IMO still the superior macOS package manager. I honestly don't know why Homebrew suddenly started getting so much attention several years ago, to the point that many devs don't even appear to know that there is another option, when MacPorts is older and doesn't take over an otherwise highly useful directory (/usr/local; MacPorts uses /opt/local).

NaOH
Keyboard Maestro allows you to simplify or automate nearly any task. No words here can capture its capabilities. Additional perks are its stability, no subscriptions (and discounted upgrade pricing for existing users), and a helpful support forum.
kstrauser
I used a Mac for about 10 years before finding Keyboard Maestro. I now think of those as the Dark Times.

Want to script actions in an app that isn't easily scriptable? It's got your back.

tailspin2019
I really like Keyboard Maestro but I found myself gravitating back to Hammerspoon after a while and just building out a library of scripts for everything I used Keyboard Maestro for (and quite a bit more).

For someone using neither of these tools yet, Keyboard Maestro is probably the nicer one to start with to give you a taste for how useful some of those automations can be!

Both are pretty powerful.

xcubic
Funny, I did the opposite because at some point I wanted to do something that was straightforward with KM but non-trivial with hammerspoon.

I do miss it's simplicity in pulling info from the system.

tailspin2019
Yeah I can understand that. I'm not passionate about one vs the other. Sometimes I do like a GUI! Keyboard Maestro is great.
brunorsini
The first thing I install when I get a new mac. Peter ftw.

For everyone recommending Rectangle, for instance... I just have a few Keyboard Maestro macros. KM probably replaces half a dozen other apps for me.

kcartlidge
Loads of little things, but you specifically asked for daily use so:

- Rectangle for window management (I appreciate you have Magnet and tastes differ)

- MarkEdit is an excellent (free) Markdown editor

- Highland 2 (not free) for more long-form Markdown writing as it can handle normal Markdown files and feels more polished than similar tools (especially the document map)

- VLC as I watch a lot of box sets and it's better than the Apple options

- SourceTree for source control (not as good as Git Extentions on Windows but more to my tastes than the VS Code plugins, Fork, or GitKraken for example)

- BitWarden as I'm cross-platform so don't want to rely on the Apple Keychain

- Authy for two-factor authentication - not the Google, Microsoft, or similar option as I don't want to be tied to a tech giant account that can get switched off

- PCloud (with encryption and a mapped drive) for the same cross-platform reason, plus again I don't want my backups tied to a tech giant account that can get switched off

- PGAdmin 4 for database management during development

- Keka for handling archives/zips as it usually handles files fine when Apple's archiver won't (eg some EPUBs when renamed to zip)

- Fastmail for being able to manage multiple custom domain emails, aliases, and even nameservers from a single (paid) user account (I'm aware it isn't a Mac app but I do often use Outlook from Office 2019 to access it despite the excellent web site)

QuinnyPig
Authy killed its desktop app, so you've gotta use their iOS version. Personally I switched to 1Password when they pulled that.
Solvitieg
Tired of password manager apps, I started to keep my passwords in a locked note in the Notes app

With a simple cipher it's near impossible for anyone to use but you

girishso
I use OTP Auth both iOS and Mac apps available. Pro upgrade is dirt cheap.
master_crab
Authy is dying. I moved to strongbox 4 years ago and never looked back. It’s Mac and iOS integrations are great!
andrei_says_
Strongbox seems similar to 1Password. I’m considering both. Could you share some of the reasons that had you choose the former?
master_crab
Strongbox had a one and done purchase option at the time (14.99).

They came out with an option a year or two ago for an upgraded version that was $99 for its lifetime. But I was migrated to that new product without paying.

Loved it so much I paid $99 for a copy for my wife. And have also tipped them a few times over the past few years. Not sure if 1pass has something similar but I do remember a sub model which I didn’t like.

andrei_says_
Perfect, appreciate your response. I have been paying for 1password but don’t like the idea of losing access or functionality in my credit card expires for example.
amrangaye
I’m heavily invested in 1p for years now, but have been impressed by the new Apple Passwords app (in beta) - it’s nowhere near as advanced, but it implements like 90% of what you need including 2FA. I’m sticking with 1p for now but worth watching as well.
flocked
I can recommend IINA much more compared to VLC. It's so much more performant (like 4-5x times), has a macOS native UI, some features VLC is lacking, let you watch an unlimited amount of videos at the same time.
anVlad11
Choosy - is a must for me. It lets you select the browser/profile after clicking on any link or define the rules for opening them. For example, if a link contains a certain domain or it's source application is Slack, it will be opened in Work profile of your browser.

Obsidian - note taking, making presentations for work-related stuff.

iTerm 2 - it's better than default terminal emulator, but i consider moving to Alacritty to see what's so hype about it.

Scroll Reverser - macOS still doesn't know the difference between mouse scrolling and trackpad scrolling.

While i can't recommend Arc browser, i still use it daily. I don't believe it will exist in it's current form in two years, but now it's much more usable than other Chromium-based browsers for me.

I also have a simple shortcut in Siri Shortcuts that calls m1ddc tool to change the external monitor current input between HDMI and DisplayPort.

w10-1
> I don't believe it will exist in it's current form in two years,

Why?

anVlad11
Arc Browser does not have a public monetization plan. The Browser Company is a for-profit company, and they'll need to give something to their investors. Their market share now is abysmal to make a meaningful amount of profit from just selling user data.

At some point, they will need to introduce some kind of subscription for some of their browser features - I assume that current Arc Max is going to be part of it. This would lead to making new features available only to the paying users.

I have really pessimistic views on software development (for-profit or not) in general now, so I'd be really happy to be wrong here.

adamomada
Orion Browser does something similar, I wonder if they make enough or if it’s subsidized by Kagi search?
ijustwanttovote
> Choosy

Wow, this would be pretty useful. Drives me crazy when my meetings open up in my personal chrome.