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Core Features

Menu Bar Integration

Notelet lives exclusively in your macOS menu bar, keeping your workspace clean and organized. No dock icon, no window clutter - just a simple, always-accessible icon that's ready when you need it.

  • Click the icon to instantly open your note in a popover
  • Right-click for quick access to Settings, History, and more
  • Optional dock visibility if you prefer it (disabled by default)
  • Transient popover automatically closes when you click outside

Instant Note Capture

Start typing immediately when you open Notelet. The text editor automatically gets focus, so there's zero friction between having a thought and capturing it.

  • Auto-focus on the text editor when popover opens
  • Auto-save on every keystroke with 1-second debounce
  • Enter key adds new lines (not saves)
  • Cmd+S or ESC to save and close
  • Pin button keeps the popover open after saving

Note History

Every time you save a note, Notelet creates a timestamped snapshot. Browse your history by date and time, search through old notes, or restore any previous version.

  • Automatic snapshots on every save (when content is not empty)
  • Split-view browser with list of all notes by date/time
  • Full-text preview of each historical note
  • One-click restore to bring back any previous note
  • Configurable retention (1-365 days, default: 30 days)
  • Automatic cleanup of notes older than retention period

Global Keyboard Shortcut

Open Notelet from anywhere on your Mac, even when you're in another app. The default shortcut is Cmd+Shift+N, perfect for quick note-taking.

  • System-wide hotkey works in any application
  • Default: Cmd+Shift+N
  • Customizable (future feature)
  • Requires Accessibility permissions (macOS prompts on first use)

Share & Export

Use macOS native sharing to export your note to various formats and destinations.

  • Native share sheet integration
  • Export as .txt file
  • Copy to clipboard
  • AirDrop to iPhone, iPad, or other Macs
  • Email, Messages, Notes.app, and more

Customization & Appearance

Font Selection

Choose the font that works best for you. Notelet supports all macOS monospaced fonts plus the system font.

  • SF Mono (default) - Apple's modern monospaced font
  • Menlo - Classic developer font
  • Monaco - Traditional Mac monospaced font
  • Courier New - Classic typewriter style
  • System Font - macOS default sans-serif
  • Font size: 10-24pt (default: 17pt)
  • Font weight: Light (optimized for readability)

Background Color

Customize the text editor's background color to match your workflow or reduce eye strain.

  • Color picker with full spectrum
  • Default: System text background (adapts to light/dark mode)
  • Supports any color for personalization

Dark Mode Support

Notelet automatically adapts to your macOS appearance settings, with full support for both light and dark modes.

  • System appearance sync
  • Optimized contrast for readability
  • Smooth transitions when switching modes

Privacy & Storage

Local-First Storage

Your notes stay on your Mac. No cloud sync, no accounts, no tracking. Complete privacy.

  • Storage location: ~/Documents/Notelet/
  • Current note: current-note.json
  • History: history.json
  • Time Machine compatible for backups
  • No internet connection required
  • No telemetry or analytics

Spelling & Language

Built-in spell checking as you type, with support for multiple languages.

  • Toggle on/off in Settings
  • Supported languages: English, Nederlands, Deutsch, Français, Español
  • System spell checker integration
  • Inline corrections with right-click suggestions

Technical Details

Requirements

  • Platform: macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later
  • Architecture: Apple Silicon only (M1, M2, M3, M4)
  • Permissions: Accessibility (for global hotkey)
  • Storage: Minimal (~5MB app + your notes)

Technology

  • Built with: Swift, SwiftUI, AppKit
  • Native macOS - no Electron, no web wrapper
  • Optimized for performance and battery life
  • Sandboxed for security (future App Store release)