I kept losing thoughts mid-task, so I built a menu-bar app that saves them in one keystroke
I'm the developer, so this is honest self-promo. Mac App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/jot-quick-capture/id6785913603?mt=12 Problem: a thought lands while I'm mid-task (a code review, a call), and opening a notes app means losing my place, so I lose the thought instead. What Jot does: press Option+Space from any app, type, hit Command+Return, and it's saved to a searchable local log. You're back to work without really leaving. Search it later, or export to Markdown. Compare: unlike Apple Notes, capturing never means switching apps or syncing to iCloud, and your notes stay in a plain local file with no account. Unlike Drafts (great app, but its full Mac features need a subscription), Jot only does capture, search, and export, for a one-time price. A few more things: Permission-free: no Accessibility, mic, or screen-recording prompts. Fully offline, notes in a plain file you own. About 650 KB, native Swift, notarized, macOS 14+. No sync, folders, rich text, or AI, on purpose. Pricing: one-time $4.99 One-time, no subscription, up to 3 Macs, free updates. Website: https://jot.arunbrahma.com. Changelog: v1.0, first public release. AI disclaimer: [Human Validated] This is live on ProductHunt: https://www.producthunt.com/products/jot-13?launch=jot-15 Feedback welcome, especially: is Option+Space a good default, or does it clash with something you use? I'll be in the comments.
Collected discussion
Don't want to discourage you, but I have a doubt about how the app is going to help capturing those quick thoughts in between the above-mentioned scenarios?
It doesn't catch them for you, you still type the thought. It just turns that into one keystroke over whatever you're in, so it's a 2-second break instead of the app-switch that usually makes me not bother.
why not use notes app?
Fair, Quick Note does the same job for free. I just wanted a plain local file (no iCloud, kept separate from my real notes) that never pulls me out of whatever I'm in.
I get why you've made this app, as I've put together my own version using Shortcuts to create, what I call a "snippet", that get's save to Bear. But I still think a dedicated app would suit me better, which is also why you may have made this app for similar reasons. Something light, easy to get in and out of, and presented as a simple list. My only thought about your app, and is why I haven't jumped to purchase, is that I would have wanted the file saved as markdown in a folder of my choosing, which in my case would be iCloud Drive. The reason for this is being able to access the file on my iPhone. Thoughts?
It already exports to markdown, and the data's a plain file you own. Saving it straight to a folder you choose (iCloud Drive, so it's on your iPhone) is what I'm building next, which gets you exactly the setup you're after.
The one-keystroke part is dope. Does it dump into one running file or separate notes? And can i set my own hotkey?
Thanks! One running file, everything drops into a single searchable log (and exports as one markdown file). And yeah, you can change the hotkey in Settings, currently a few presets (Ctrl+Space, Cmd+Shift+Space, Option+J), with full custom on my list.
Good job! i think the pricing is a little much for something that is already built-in macos (quick notes) but still i like the execution.
I have included a coupon code - LAUNCH2026 You can use it for a one-time purchase at $2.49. I have provided limited availability only. I ahve plans to include more features in upcoming releases such as Text to Speech and Speech to Text, Knowledge Graph of keywords between notes etc.
Not trying to discourage you, OP. This is a good app. In my case, though, i am so used to using cmd + tab to switch between apps that it only takes a moment to open Apple Notes. I also use Raycast Notes, which stays open on my screen while i am using other apps, so it’s pretty convenient for me.
Please try this and provide me honest feedback
Looking good...keep building my friend
Thank you, friend :)
Pretty cool app, thanks!
Thanks brother
I think voice support would be better for capturing thoughts?
thanks for the suggestion. I will be including it in the next release
i need this feature, thank you foy your nice app
you can purchase it using coupon code: LAUNCH2026 for 2.49$ (available for limited capacity)
Ok kinda love this. I much prefer this ‘griply-style’ ux/ui over my current solution (using the app Type which resembles more like a command palette but just for notes). It’s much easier for me to mentally register this kinda design pattern over the command palette-style. As someone in tech but with horrible ADHD, frictionless workflows like this are a godsend for me, otherwise I’d never get anything done!
This is neat, it’d be cool if you could make it come down from the notch
is it like a clipboard mannager?
no free trial ? not sure exactly, but some keyboard short cuts would work well without this app?
the iCloud-free local file part is what gets me. i have way too many random thoughts cluttering my actual Notes app. having a separate capture dump that stays on disk sounds way cleaner. does it have any kind of tagging or is it purely chronological?