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Stapler

My take on the classic Macintosh app Stapler (Chris Patterson, Patterson Software Works, 1992).

With a little bit of the early Mac OS X app LaunchList (Ali Rantakari, hasseg.org, 2009).

More info in the accompanying blog post.

Download

https://github.com/gingerbeardman/stapler/releases/latest

  • supported: macOS 12 and newer

What is it?

The idea is you set up a Stapler Document per project containing related apps, files, folders, etc.

Then you can open them all at once by launching the single document.

Each document contains a list of aliases that can be managed, inspected, launched using the app.

Task-based computing.

screenshot

Use cases

  • Work: text editor, run current game, pixel art editor, bitmap font app, todo list
  • Play: Music app, Hacker News app, Twitter app, script to position windows
  • Movie: run Caffeine to keep your computer on, shortcut to put displays to sleep

Usage

Opening the app

  • The app is digitally signed by me and my Apple developer account
  • The app is not Notarised and I currently have no plans to do so
  • You may need to do the right-click-choose-open Gatekeeper dance a couple of times to open it

Editing a list

  1. Open Stapler.app
  2. Create a New Document
  3. Add some items
    • using drag and drop from Finder or other apps
    • or using the menu Items > Add
  4. Items can be removed (they are aliases so files on disk are not affected)
  5. Save your list as a Stapler Document

All standard macOS Document-Based App conventions are supported through the File menu. And things like Undo just works!

Launching a list

  1. Open your Stapler Document
  2. All items in the list will be launched automatically
  3. Stapler.app will close (if it was not already open)

Tip: hold the Cmd key whilst launching a Stapler Document to open it in edit mode.

Launching specific items

  1. Open Stapler.app
  2. Open a Stapler Document
  3. Select the items you want to launch
  4. Select Items > Launch (or press Return)

Working with a list

  1. Open Stapler.app
  2. Open a Stapler Document
    • use File > Open…
    • use File > Open Recent
  3. Use the Items menu

Tip: hold the Cmd key whilst launching a Stapler Document to open it in edit mode.

Keyboard controls

Press Function
Cmd + Return Add… (open file selector)
Backspace Remove
Space Quick Look
Cmd + R Reveal in Finder
Return Launch

Permissions

  • All files you select or drop are recorded only as macOS filesystem bookmarks
  • The only files that are written to are Stapler Documents
  • Network permission is required to Quick Look .webloc files
  • The app should prompt for file access permission
  • You may want to grant additional file access permissions at:
    • System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access
  • Since 1.2.1 the app is Notarized so it can be run with fewer nags

Bonus tip

System Preferences > Desktop & Dock > Windows > Close windows when quitting an application = OFF

Then leave the windows of an app open as you quit it. When you next launch the app its windows will restore to their previous size and position. If you close the windows first, then the app will restore to having no windows open.

Get involved

  • Please use Discussions for any questions
  • Wiki contains info for power users
  • Bug reports and PRs are very welcome!

Licence

MIT