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.
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.
Achievements
- 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.
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.
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.
The Experience in Motion
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.