Free software I’ve written

This page is a catalog of free software I've written or substantially worked on.

Pester: simple, disposable alarms and timers for macOS

Pester is designed to let you set, dismiss or snooze an alarm or timer as quickly and painlessly as possible, entirely from the keyboard if you wish. Alert options include sounds, speech and desktop notifications.

What other people say: Macworld, Wolf Rentzsch, Daring Fireball.

• Download as a compressed disk image, version 1.1b24 for macOS 10.12 and later. (Release notes)
• Download as a compressed disk image, version 1.1b23 for OS X 10.9–10.11.6.
• Download as a compressed disk image, version 1.1b19 for OS X 10.7–10.8.5. (Does this crash when you open it?)
• Download as a compressed disk image, version 1.1b18 for Mac OS X 10.6–10.6.8.
• Download Universal Binary as a compressed disk image, version 1.1b12 for Mac OS X 10.4–10.5.8.
• Download source and binary as a compressed disk image, version 1.0 for Mac OS X 10.1–10.6.8.
• Source is available at GitHub.

Shroud: a sensory deprivation tank for your Mac¹

Shroud places a solid-color backdrop behind windows or applications to allow you to focus. The backdrop doesn’t come to the front when you click on it, messing up your carefully arranged workspace. Shroud (optionally) also obscures your menu bar until you move the mouse over it.

What other people say: The Guardian, ¹Edge Cases.

• Download as a compressed disk image, version 1.2.1 for OS X 10.8 and later. (Release notes)
• Download as a compressed disk image, version 1.2 for Mac OS X 10.6–10.7.5.
• Download Universal Binary as a compressed disk image, version 1.1.2 for Mac OS X 10.5–10.5.8.
• Source is available at GitHub.

Hermes: a compact Mac Pandora client

I took over primary maintainership of this app from its original author in 2014, have fixed a lot of bugs, cleaned up the UI and added some features since. Hermes has its own Web site.

NewsBlur: a personal news reader that brings people together to talk about the world

I've made significant contributions to the NewsBlur iOS app. Samuel was kind enough to put me on the About page.

I also wrote a small app which helps NewsBlur to open stories in a new tab in Safari 10 or later, and directs feed: URLs to NewsBlur. You can find it on GitHub.

LaunchBar actions

These are actions for LaunchBar, a multi-talented Mac launcher.

• LBHermes: action for browsing Hermes stations. Downloads and source are available at GitHub.
• LBHue: an action for controlling Philips Hue lights. Downloads and source are available at GitHub.
• LBJumpDesktop: an action for browsing Jump Desktop remote connections. Downloads and source are available at GitHub.
• LBOfficeMRU: actions which let you access recent documents in Mac Office 365/2016/2019 applications. Downloads and source are available at GitHub.
• LBUpToDate: an action for searching UpToDate®. Downloads and source are available at GitHub.

launch: a command-line launcher for macOS in the spirit of open

Apple provides a simple command-line launching program called open with macOS. launch offers several options that open doesn't. It:

• opens "slack" URLs (e.g. apple.com) and email addresses (-l)
• lets you specify applications by their four-character creator (e.g. 'ToyS') or Java-style bundle ID (e.g. com.apple.ScriptEditor2), both of which allow you to move or rename an application without changing references to it
• lets you find applications rather than opening them (-n)
• asks applications to print documents (-p)
• allows you to pipe output to any GUI application (not just TextEdit)
• displays extensive file, folder and volume information including type, creator, bundle ID, sizes, dates and versions (-f)
• reports errors intelligibly
• and much more!

launch is useful by itself, but is even better when used in scripts. Assign a shell command to your favorite macOS text, graphics or resource editor. Browse your favorite Web site with a few keystrokes.

• Download source and binary in gzipped tar format, version 1.2.5 for macOS/OS X 10.8 and later.
• Download source and Universal Binary in gzipped tar format, version 1.1 for Mac OS X 10.4–10.7.5.
• Download source and binary in gzipped tar format, version 1.0.1 for Mac OS X 10.2–10.3.9.
• Source is available at GitHub.

appswitch: a command-line interface to macOS process management

If you use shell scripts to automate macOS applications, you may need to switch between, hide, show or quit applications. Need to launch an X11 application from Terminal but the X server isn't in front when you need it? Use appswitch to fix the problem. Or, if you'd like a version of the ps(1) utility which understands the concept of macOS applications, appswitch can help.

• Download source and binary in gzipped tar format, version 1.1.2 for OS X 10.8 and later.
• Download source and binary in gzipped tar format, version 1.1.1 for Mac OS X 10.6–10.7.5.
• Download source and Universal Binary in gzipped tar format, version 1.1 for Mac OS X 10.4–10.5.8.
• Download source and binary in gzipped tar format, version 1.0.1 for Mac OS X 10.2–10.3.9.
• Source is available at GitHub.

brightness: a command-line interface to macOS display brightness

Manage a lab of iMacs? Using a Mac display with software brightness control but without a light sensor? brightness can help you quickly set or retrieve your display’s brightness from scripts or the command line. It will also print display characteristics such as resolution.

• Source and documentation are available at GitHub.

soundsource: a command-line interface to macOS audio device selection

A command-line version of Rogue Amoeba's SoundSource 2.5, soundsource lets you enumerate, display and change the selected macOS input, output and system audio devices. I use it to switch audio devices from the keyboard with the help of FastScripts.

• Download source and binary in gzipped tar format, version 3.1 for OS X 10.8 and later.
• Source and documentation are available at GitHub.

AntiRSI

The original version of AntiRSI was written by Onne Gorter. In his words, “AntiRSI is a program for OS X that helps prevent RSI (repetitive strain injury) and other computer related stress. It does so by forcing you to take regular breaks, yet without getting in the way. It also detects natural breaks so it won't force too many breaks on you.”

Over the past few years I’ve made several changes, including:

• redesigned break window, using less CPU during breaks
• usage tracking which doesn't get affected by video players (e.g., UpdateSystemActvity)
• work session timer measuring how long you've been typing in total
• showing the break window in all Spaces on Leopard
• not keeping AntiRSI focused when you click “Postpone”, or at the end of a break when you have AntiRSI set to keep itself in front

Screenshots: session timer and break window; preferences.

• Download application as a ZIP archive, version 1.4njr4 for Mac OS X 10.4.3 and later (Universal Binary).
• Source is available from Subversion (browse).