10 ms·

List of open source applications for macOS

327 points by rayascott 7y ago

nikivi 7y 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 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/karabiner/karabiner.edn https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/dotfiles/blob/master/karab...
- phillipamann 7y 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?
  - nikivi 7y ago
    https://wiki.nikitavoloboev.xyz/backups https://wiki.nikitavoloboev.xyz/backups I back it up to Backblaze every 80 hours. And I am slowly moving my config files to Nix.
    - phillipamann 7y ago
      I will elaborate a bit more. You've taken the time to have this macOS set up configured exactly to your liking. All of these apps have settings and application data. Sometimes the application data and settings are synchronized in the cloud and sometimes they aren't. Maybe you use an app like Notes which has application data (your notes) that is synced to iCloud but application settings which reside somewhere on the computer locally. How do you handle situations like this? Do your back up solutions essentially allow you to back up the complete state of your computer so that if something happens you can restore it back to to the exact state you left it? What about upgrading macOS versions? This is a puzzle I've struggled with both on macOS and iOS.
      - nikivi 7y ago
        You might find this app useful. I plan to use it as I move to a new mac soon. https://github.com/zenangst/Syncalicious https://github.com/zenangst/Syncalicious
        phillipamann 7y ago
        Yes! Thank you! I'll even see if I can help contribute. Does iCloud iOS backup accomplish an exact sync for iPhone and iOS? I've never used it so I am not sure. If I use iCloud backup and I lose my phone, will an iCloud backup restore bring my phone back to exactly what it was like before?
        oarsinsync 7y ago
        Almost. Some things (e.g. Photo library tagging) doesn't get included in the backup, and all your photos need to be re-processed by the new device.
  - mettamage 7y ago
    I'm still forming my backup strategy. In your particular usecase, it's a bit clunky, but I'd use Carbon Copy Cloner for Mac and make monthly backups.
  - egze 7y ago
    Check out mackup https://github.com/lra/mackup https://github.com/lra/mackup
    - draebek 7y ago
      FWIW I tried Mackup for a few days to try and sync prefs between two macOS machines, and it broke more than it fixed. Many applications don't like having their preferences files symlinked or preferences changed while they're running.
  - heyoni 7y ago
    Personally I just do time machine over the air. You just need to setup a Netatalk server with mdns on a raspberry pi or any other spare computer and that’s it. Now I’m trying to sort out how to push backups over vpn since it’s not identifying the drive correctly, but when I’m home it’s flawless.
  - rovr138 7y ago
    They all have to be saved somewhere. A lot of Mac only apps also use the defaults[0] system which allows you to read/write values there. man defaults defaults domains | tr " " "\n" defaults read com.apple.Safari For dot files, I personally use stow[1] but there are other utilities and workflows out there[2]. [0] https://ss64.com/osx/defaults.html [1] https://www.gnu.org/software/stow/ [2] https://dotfiles.github.io/
    - draebek 7y ago
      Note that, at least as of 10.14 (Mojave), lots of built-in macOS preferences do not like their settings to be changed this way. For example, you can use `defaults` to change preferences for the trackpad to your heart's content, but they won't take effect immediately because IOKit (I think) has a shadow copy of the preferences that is much harder to modify. The pref pane for the trackpad ends up changing both the plist and the IOKit prefs to make preference changes take effect immediately. If you use a lot of `defaults` commands, you'll want to reboot immediately afterwards.
- mettamage 7y 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.
- ronyeh 7y 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!
- pier25 7y ago
  Great list! Found a couple of gems that I didn't know existed.
- luizfelberti 7y 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?
  - nikivi 7y ago
    I avoid this slowdown by mapping every single app I use to a two key binding. https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/dotfiles/blob/master/karabiner/karabiner.edn#L181 https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/dotfiles/blob/master/karab... i.e. w+l opens VS Code. w+k opens Safari and so on. It's instant, no lag at all. I also bind four finger swipes to open top apps with BetterTouchTool. i.e. four finger swipe up opens Safari, swipe right = VS Code, swipe left = iTerm.
- gingerlime 7y 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.
  - choward 7y ago
    > IBM Model-M keyboard I hope you work in a sound proof room.
    - gingerlime 7y ago
      Working remotely from home. But I used to have one at the office when we had one, and nobody complained. Although they were entertained by the artifact of years gone by.
  - jackthetab 7y ago
    Unicomp makes (modifies?) Model-M type keybaords that are Mac-ish; I've got a Command and Option Key, the F keys do the same thing as the ones on the Mac (change volume, brightness, etc.). I love it. Tell, me, how do you connect your Model-M to the Mac? I bought this from Unicomp because IIRC just adding a USB adapter to the three Model-M's in my closet didn't work out.
- submeta 7y 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.
- b__d 7y ago
  you can live/work without a clipboard manager :O ?!
swebs 7y 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 7y 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)
- z9e 7y ago
  The arch wiki has a great list here: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/list_of_applications https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/list_of_applications
kache_ 7y 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 7y ago
  Yet when I look it's mostly buggy, poorly supported and half finished.
  - diffeomorphism 7y ago
    Have you tried paying for the open source software?
    - tonyedgecombe 7y ago
      Why would I pay for something that's mostly buggy, poorly supported and half finished.
      - phkahler 7y ago
        Because it's a chicken and egg problem.
        tonyedgecombe 7y ago
        Not really, there is already well written solid software for the Mac which I do pay for. What would happen if these companies open sourced their software is most users would stop paying and they would be forced out of business. Open source devalues developers work.
        diffeomorphism 7y ago
        That is a cop out. It is not "abstract concept devalues", YOU are the one that chooses not to pay.
hardwaresofton 7y 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?
- swebs 7y ago
  https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vlc-for-mobile/id650377962 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vlc-for-mobile/id650377962
  - hardwaresofton 7y ago
    Thanks so much for the recommendation -- amazed that I didn't manage to find VLC in all my searching. I don't think of VLC for playing music so much so maybe that was where my blindspot was.
- s_dev 7y ago
  https://mpv.io/ https://mpv.io/
- CDSlice 7y ago
  A bit off topic, but why can't you just use the Music app? It plays local MP3s just fine.
  - rovr138 7y ago
    I haven't checked recently, but it used to be that you couldn't add things directly from your phone to it.
    - CDSlice 7y ago
      Ah, I actually don't think it can do that. I purchase pretty much all my music from the iTunes store since it is DRM free and the only other place I get music from is CDs I win in radio contests, so I haven't needed to do that.
phkahler 7y 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.
NamPNQ 7y ago
When apple opensource ios Simulator :)
greggman2 7y ago
It doesn't seem like aesprite is open source https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite 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
- rahuldottech 7y ago
  Technically, it is Open Source, in the sense that the source code is available to the public. It is not, however, free software [0]. It also probably fails the official Open Source Definition [1]. [0]: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.en.html https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.en.html [1]: https://opensource.org/osd-annotated https://opensource.org/osd-annotated
  - greggman2 7y ago
    It's not Open Source in the same sense that Unreal Engine is not Open Source. Apparently the term "source-available" license is used to describe software you can access the source but don't have permission do use it freely the same ways as "open source". Aesprite was open source until 2016 thoughs so maybe the reason it's on the list is the list was created before 2016. https://www.aseprite.org/faq/#if-aseprite-source-code-is-available-how-is-that-you-are-selling-it https://www.aseprite.org/faq/#if-aseprite-source-code-is-ava...
  - eindiran 7y ago
    The term for this situation is usually "Source-available software": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source-available_software https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source-available_software
suyash 7y ago
This list is missing tons of app for Mac OS that are written using JavaFX.
edpichler 7y ago
I really wish a tool like EA Architect but for Mac.
copperx 7y ago
Not to hijack from this thread, but is there a similar list for Windows? That would be great to have.
ridgeguy 7y ago
I'd add Downlink [1] to the Wallpaper category. No connection to the developer, just a user here. [1] https://downlinkapp.com https://downlinkapp.com
mindfreeze 7y ago
Where is VideoLAN's VLC

327 points by rayascott 7y 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 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/karabiner/karabiner.edn https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/dotfiles/blob/master/karab...

phillipamann 7y 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?
- nikivi 7y ago
  https://wiki.nikitavoloboev.xyz/backups https://wiki.nikitavoloboev.xyz/backups I back it up to Backblaze every 80 hours. And I am slowly moving my config files to Nix.
  - phillipamann 7y ago
    I will elaborate a bit more. You've taken the time to have this macOS set up configured exactly to your liking. All of these apps have settings and application data. Sometimes the application data and settings are synchronized in the cloud and sometimes they aren't. Maybe you use an app like Notes which has application data (your notes) that is synced to iCloud but application settings which reside somewhere on the computer locally. How do you handle situations like this? Do your back up solutions essentially allow you to back up the complete state of your computer so that if something happens you can restore it back to to the exact state you left it? What about upgrading macOS versions? This is a puzzle I've struggled with both on macOS and iOS.
    - nikivi 7y ago
      You might find this app useful. I plan to use it as I move to a new mac soon. https://github.com/zenangst/Syncalicious https://github.com/zenangst/Syncalicious
      - phillipamann 7y ago
        Yes! Thank you! I'll even see if I can help contribute. Does iCloud iOS backup accomplish an exact sync for iPhone and iOS? I've never used it so I am not sure. If I use iCloud backup and I lose my phone, will an iCloud backup restore bring my phone back to exactly what it was like before?
        oarsinsync 7y ago
        Almost. Some things (e.g. Photo library tagging) doesn't get included in the backup, and all your photos need to be re-processed by the new device.
- mettamage 7y ago
  I'm still forming my backup strategy. In your particular usecase, it's a bit clunky, but I'd use Carbon Copy Cloner for Mac and make monthly backups.
- egze 7y ago
  Check out mackup https://github.com/lra/mackup https://github.com/lra/mackup
  - draebek 7y ago
    FWIW I tried Mackup for a few days to try and sync prefs between two macOS machines, and it broke more than it fixed. Many applications don't like having their preferences files symlinked or preferences changed while they're running.
- heyoni 7y ago
  Personally I just do time machine over the air. You just need to setup a Netatalk server with mdns on a raspberry pi or any other spare computer and that’s it. Now I’m trying to sort out how to push backups over vpn since it’s not identifying the drive correctly, but when I’m home it’s flawless.
- rovr138 7y ago
  They all have to be saved somewhere. A lot of Mac only apps also use the defaults[0] system which allows you to read/write values there. man defaults defaults domains | tr " " "\n" defaults read com.apple.Safari For dot files, I personally use stow[1] but there are other utilities and workflows out there[2]. [0] https://ss64.com/osx/defaults.html [1] https://www.gnu.org/software/stow/ [2] https://dotfiles.github.io/
  - draebek 7y ago
    Note that, at least as of 10.14 (Mojave), lots of built-in macOS preferences do not like their settings to be changed this way. For example, you can use `defaults` to change preferences for the trackpad to your heart's content, but they won't take effect immediately because IOKit (I think) has a shadow copy of the preferences that is much harder to modify. The pref pane for the trackpad ends up changing both the plist and the IOKit prefs to make preference changes take effect immediately. If you use a lot of `defaults` commands, you'll want to reboot immediately afterwards.
mettamage 7y 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.
ronyeh 7y 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!
pier25 7y ago
Great list! Found a couple of gems that I didn't know existed.
luizfelberti 7y 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?
- nikivi 7y ago
  I avoid this slowdown by mapping every single app I use to a two key binding. https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/dotfiles/blob/master/karabiner/karabiner.edn#L181 https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/dotfiles/blob/master/karab... i.e. w+l opens VS Code. w+k opens Safari and so on. It's instant, no lag at all. I also bind four finger swipes to open top apps with BetterTouchTool. i.e. four finger swipe up opens Safari, swipe right = VS Code, swipe left = iTerm.
gingerlime 7y 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.
- choward 7y ago
  > IBM Model-M keyboard I hope you work in a sound proof room.
  - gingerlime 7y ago
    Working remotely from home. But I used to have one at the office when we had one, and nobody complained. Although they were entertained by the artifact of years gone by.
- jackthetab 7y ago
  Unicomp makes (modifies?) Model-M type keybaords that are Mac-ish; I've got a Command and Option Key, the F keys do the same thing as the ones on the Mac (change volume, brightness, etc.). I love it. Tell, me, how do you connect your Model-M to the Mac? I bought this from Unicomp because IIRC just adding a USB adapter to the three Model-M's in my closet didn't work out.
submeta 7y 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.
b__d 7y ago
you can live/work without a clipboard manager :O ?!

swebs 7y 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 7y 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)
z9e 7y ago
The arch wiki has a great list here: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/list_of_applications https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/list_of_applications

kache_ 7y 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 7y ago
Yet when I look it's mostly buggy, poorly supported and half finished.
- diffeomorphism 7y ago
  Have you tried paying for the open source software?
  - tonyedgecombe 7y ago
    Why would I pay for something that's mostly buggy, poorly supported and half finished.
    - phkahler 7y ago
      Because it's a chicken and egg problem.
      - tonyedgecombe 7y ago
        Not really, there is already well written solid software for the Mac which I do pay for. What would happen if these companies open sourced their software is most users would stop paying and they would be forced out of business. Open source devalues developers work.
        diffeomorphism 7y ago
        That is a cop out. It is not "abstract concept devalues", YOU are the one that chooses not to pay.

hardwaresofton 7y 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?

swebs 7y ago
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vlc-for-mobile/id650377962 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vlc-for-mobile/id650377962
- hardwaresofton 7y ago
  Thanks so much for the recommendation -- amazed that I didn't manage to find VLC in all my searching. I don't think of VLC for playing music so much so maybe that was where my blindspot was.
s_dev 7y ago
https://mpv.io/ https://mpv.io/
CDSlice 7y ago
A bit off topic, but why can't you just use the Music app? It plays local MP3s just fine.
- rovr138 7y ago
  I haven't checked recently, but it used to be that you couldn't add things directly from your phone to it.
  - CDSlice 7y ago
    Ah, I actually don't think it can do that. I purchase pretty much all my music from the iTunes store since it is DRM free and the only other place I get music from is CDs I win in radio contests, so I haven't needed to do that.

phkahler 7y 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.

NamPNQ 7y ago

When apple opensource ios Simulator :)

greggman2 7y ago

It doesn't seem like aesprite is open source https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite 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

rahuldottech 7y ago
Technically, it is Open Source, in the sense that the source code is available to the public. It is not, however, free software [0]. It also probably fails the official Open Source Definition [1]. [0]: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.en.html https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.en.html [1]: https://opensource.org/osd-annotated https://opensource.org/osd-annotated
- greggman2 7y ago
  It's not Open Source in the same sense that Unreal Engine is not Open Source. Apparently the term "source-available" license is used to describe software you can access the source but don't have permission do use it freely the same ways as "open source". Aesprite was open source until 2016 thoughs so maybe the reason it's on the list is the list was created before 2016. https://www.aseprite.org/faq/#if-aseprite-source-code-is-available-how-is-that-you-are-selling-it https://www.aseprite.org/faq/#if-aseprite-source-code-is-ava...
- eindiran 7y ago
  The term for this situation is usually "Source-available software": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source-available_software https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source-available_software

suyash 7y ago

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

edpichler 7y ago

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

copperx 7y ago

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

ridgeguy 7y ago

I'd add Downlink [1] to the Wallpaper category. No connection to the developer, just a user here. [1] https://downlinkapp.com https://downlinkapp.com

mindfreeze 7y ago

Where is VideoLAN's VLC