Promptly

A high-performance macOS menubar utility that provides instant AI-powered text processing across the entire operating system. It eliminates the friction of traditional AI interfaces by allowing users to highlight text in any app and trigger local LLM-driven actions—such as summarizing, rewriting, or code analysis—via a customizable global shortcut.

SwiftSwiftUImacOSAIOllamaProductivityLocalAINativeAppLLM
Github
Promptly

Problem

Standard system-level writing tools often feel restrictive and lack the flexibility to choose specific AI models. Previously, accessing advanced AI assistance mid-workflow required disruptive context-switching to browsers or resource-heavy applications, which broke focus and compromised data privacy through cloud-based processing.

Solution

Engineered a native SwiftUI application that serves as a seamless conduit between the macOS ecosystem and local AI intelligence. By leveraging system-wide accessibility permissions and deep integration with Ollama, the app enables a private, 'invisible' utility experience where users can query local models instantly without ever leaving their active window.

Achievement

  • Architected a lightweight Swift-based system that captures and processes text across any macOS application with sub-second latency
  • Eliminated the need for Docker or complex terminal workflows by providing a clean, consumer-grade GUI for local LLM orchestration
  • Developed a customizable shortcut and prompt engine that allows for personalized AI behaviors tailored to specific professional tasks
  • Optimized the application footprint to match the performance standards of elite macOS tools like Rectangle and Alfred

Promptly was born during a three-hour lunch break out of a specific frustration: the friction between thought and execution. While Apple's native writing tools provided a foundation, they lacked the flexibility to choose specific models or integrate deeply into a professional workflow. This lightweight macOS utility allows for instant, context-aware AI assistance without ever leaving the active window.

Promptly Interface - Clean and native macOS design

Highlight. Query. Done.

The application leverages the macOS Accessibility API to bridge the gap between static text and dynamic refinement. By capturing the current system-wide selection, Promptly enables users to transform text into polished emails, summaries, or code refactors with a single global shortcut (⌘⇧I). It is designed to be invisible — staying out of the way until the moment it is summoned.

Your Model, Your Rules

Privacy and sovereignty are at the heart of the architecture. By integrating directly with a local Ollama instance, Promptly ensures that sensitive data never leaves the machine. Users have full control over the LLM backend, allowing for seamless switching between general-purpose models and specialized variants without the overhead of Docker or cloud subscriptions.

Architecture & Design

Built entirely with Swift and SwiftUI, Promptly maintains a minimal memory footprint typical of elite macOS utilities like Alfred or Rectangle. The implementation focuses on event-driven state management to ensure that global keyboard monitoring and cross-app text retrieval feel native and instantaneous.

Built With