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nativ
Nativ is a native macOS app that lets you run AI models locally on Apple silicon, offering chat, model management, performance analytics, and an OpenAI/Anthropic-compatible API server.
AI repository intelligence
FR-AI / ANALYSISWhy it is worth attention
It achieves this without injecting into the Dock or disabling System Integrity Protection, relying solely on Accessibility and ScreenCaptureKit APIs, and is fully notarized for easy installation.
Who it is for
- macOS users who miss Windows taskbar previews
- Power users managing multiple open windows
- Developers interested in macOS API usage (Accessibility, ScreenCaptureKit)
- Users with accessibility needs (VoiceOver support, Reduce Motion)
Use cases
- Quickly preview a window without switching apps
- Identify which app window contains the needed content
- Efficient window management on crowded desktops
- Accessible interaction for users relying on VoiceOver
Strengths
- No Dock injection or SIP modifications required
- Apple-notarized and signed, no Gatekeeper warnings
- Configurable hover delay, thumbnail size, and per-app exclusions
- Respects system accessibility settings (Reduce Motion, Reduce Transparency)
Considerations
- Requires macOS 14 or later (Apple Silicon or Intel)
- One-time grant of Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions
- Previews only capture window images via ScreenCaptureKit (no video or interaction within preview)
README quick start
DockPeek — dock-preview.app
Hover any running app in the macOS Dock and get a live preview of its windows — the way the Windows taskbar does it. Runs as a quiet menu-bar app; no Dock injection, no disabling SIP, no system-wide hacks.
Install
- Download the latest
.dmgfrom the Releases page. - Open it and drag dock-preview to Applications.
- Launch it — the app is signed and notarized by Apple, so it opens with no Gatekeeper warning.
- Grant Accessibility and Screen Recording in the onboarding window, then click Relaunch.
Prefer to build it yourself? See Build & run.
How it works
| Piece | API |
|---|---|
| Detect which Dock icon the cursor is over | Accessibility (AXUIElementCopyElementAtPosition, AXDockItem) |
| Resolve the icon to a running app | Dock item AXURL → bundle id → NSRunningApplication |
| Capture window thumbnails | ScreenCaptureKit (SCScreenshotManager.captureImage) |
| Show the preview | Borderless non-activating NSPanel above the icon |
It never injects into com.apple.dock. It only observes via the Accessibility
API and reads window images via ScreenCaptureKit — both gated behind one-time,
per-app macOS permissions.
Permissions (granted once)
- Accessibility — to read which Dock icon the cursor is over and its frame.
- Screen Recording — to capture the window images shown in the preview.
Nothing is recorded, saved, or sent anywhere; images live only in memory to draw the thumbnail. A friendly onboarding window walks you through both, with a Relaunch button because Screen Recording only re-evaluates on launch.
Build & run
./build.sh # compiles + assembles dock-preview.app + ad-hoc signs it
open ./dock-preview.app
Then grant the two permissions in the onboarding window. dock-preview.app lands
in the project root and launches on double-click.
Regenerate the icon after editing tools/make_icon.swift:
swift tools/make_icon.swift && ./build.sh
Package for distribution
./package.sh # → dist/dock-preview-.zip and .dmg (ad-hoc
Description
Just the Accessibility API to find the icon you're hovering + ScreenCaptureKit for live thumbnails. Two one-time permissions, then it runs quietly in the menu bar.
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