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List of open source applications for macOS

327 points| 0x4542 | 6 years ago |github.com

87 comments

order

nikivi|6 years ago

I have a personal list of macOS apps I use that is similar & goes in detail in how I use the apps.

https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/my-mac-os

Karabiner specifically is life changing software.

At this point ALL keys on my keyboard are custom modifier keys. It's wild.

https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/dotfiles/blob/master/karab...

submeta|6 years ago

Thank you very much for sharing. Using almost all of the tools you mention myself[^1]. But you give lots of new inspiration. And mention many new tools that I will explore.

Funny that today I started using SublimeText again for the exact same purpose you describe: Creating a wiki / knowledge base that is text based (markdown FTW), editing those markdown files, quickly jumping to files within nested folders (via Cmd+P = Goto anywhere). Was searching an alternative to `Quiver App` or `Dash App` to create a code snippet database / repository.

After I started using `iA Writer` for writing markdown, I realized how much better it is to move away from Evernote, Quiver or other proprietary writing apps to markdown (=plaintext) + folders. A little research later I narrowed down to: Emacs+Orgmode+Terminal or Vim+FZF+Ripgrep+Terminal. I realized that SublimeText gives me all the Ripgrep+FZF capabilities, and a decent markdown editor. (Still I love and use `iA Writer` for non-technical writing and SublimeText for all else.)

[^1]: Karabiner Elements, Alfred App, Keyboard Maestro and many more.

ronyeh|6 years ago

OMG, I skimmed over your mappings and macros.

The keyboard maestro and karabiner folks need to hire you to help them market their tools.

I thought I was pretty good with karabiner and KM. You... are a true power user!

luizfelberti|6 years ago

> All the apps are in one desktop because there is delay in switching between macOS multiple desktops.

Huh, this is a weird one for me.

I believe there is a Terminal command to shorten the animation time which I've used, but other than that it would take more time for me to cycle through so many windows to find the one I want, than to just lay out task specific desktops and switch between them with Ctrl+Left/Right.

Not only that but I already am at a limit where I have so many windows in one of those (several Firefox windows, each with many tabs of stuff to read) where all of the windows become sluggish unless I move the one I'm trying to use to a less crowded desktop.

Did you do something to avoid this slowdown? How do you efficiently move between all those applications in a single desktop?

mettamage|6 years ago

Wow! I'm definitely going to take some inspiration from this. IMO, this should've been the submission since it felt a lot more readable to me than the other list.

With the other list I got bored quite quick, but with this one I was able to read it for a lot longer. This was mostly due to the screenshots and the explanations of how you use it.

phillipamann|6 years ago

What do you do if you lose your data and have to start over? As far as I know, there is no way to automate the settings of all of these macOS apps that don't have config files that can be backed up like VSCode. Do you use Time Machine?

pier25|6 years ago

Great list!

Found a couple of gems that I didn't know existed.

gingerlime|6 years ago

Another shout-out for Karabiner. It's amazing.

I was using Linux primarily, but recently switched fully to MacOS. With an IBM Model-M keyboard (old-school, missing the Apple/Window keys), I wouldn't be able to live without Karabiner.

b__d|6 years ago

you can live/work without a clipboard manager :O ?!

kache_|6 years ago

Every time I come across a paid 30 dollar version of software being sold for macos, I can find a free open source alternative that often works better pretty quickly.

tonyedgecombe|6 years ago

Yet when I look it's mostly buggy, poorly supported and half finished.

Karunamon|6 years ago

That’s funny, every time I come across some piece of unsupported free software, I can usually find a $30 paid alternative that looks better, probably runs better, and someone will answer my questions about it, no matter how stupid they might be.

bananasquash|6 years ago

freeware and people like you have killed indie development. Great software should be paid for. Unless or cures cancer or solves humanity’s issues, it should not he made available for free. Otherwise the author of a paid version is forced into office jobs because some idiot makes a free clone just to have something on their cv.

oefrha|6 years ago

I’ll pay you $30 if you point to me a free open source alternative to Sketch that works better. /s if that isn’t obvious.

P.S. As a non-designer who’d like to use Sketch maybe once every two to three months, the price is pretty steep.

modzu|6 years ago

part of the reason for this is it costs money to distribute apps for apple devices. $100 a year and xcode (ie mac hardware) at a minimum.

swebs|6 years ago

Cool list. I'd love to the the equivalent for Linux. I know I can open some package manager and check, but it would nice to see the cream of the crop.

panpanna|6 years ago

You could also use the graphical interface to the said package manager.

On Ubuntu for example, the Ubuntu software center has sections for editors picks and recommended applications for audio/video/gaming/productivity/...

(Not all open source thought)

hardwaresofton|6 years ago

Somewhat unrelated but does anyone know why there isn't a basic open source local-file MP3 player for iOS? I can't seem to find one (all of the ones on the app store are either scummy looking or "radio" players) -- does Apple block competitors to Apple Music?

I've considered building a simple open source MP3 player for iOS (which has no baked in ties to any other radio services or online services), but surely the reason one doesn't exist is because it would never pass review or is against Apple's ToS somehow?

CDSlice|6 years ago

A bit off topic, but why can't you just use the Music app? It plays local MP3s just fine.

greggman2|6 years ago

It doesn't seem like aesprite is open source

https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite

The source is available but the license seems to say you must pay for a copy and that while you can download the source and compile you can not distribute what you make, custom compiles for personal use only.

It does look like a great program though and I'd happily pay the $14.99 they are asking if I was in the market for a pixel editor

copperx|6 years ago

Not to hijack from this thread, but is there a similar list for Windows? That would be great to have.

phkahler|6 years ago

I'd like to see SolveSpace (CAD) on there, but the mac support will be dropped soon unless someone can jump in to help.

edpichler|6 years ago

I really wish a tool like EA Architect but for Mac.

suyash|6 years ago

This list is missing tons of app for Mac OS that are written using JavaFX.

NamPNQ|6 years ago

When apple opensource ios Simulator :)