Macos Menubar App

🤖 Auto-generated by weekly-pattern-learner · SwiftUI macOS menubar app pattern observed in FocusNotch session, Jun 2026 (364 user turns, ~48 MB transcript covering idea → spec → impl → critique cycles → App Store)

macOS Menubar / Notch App (SwiftUI)

Overview

Build a macOS app that lives in the menu bar or notch using SwiftUI's MenuBarExtra. Covers the full lifecycle: project setup, window management, entitlements, user interaction (keyboard shortcuts, sound), and App Store preparation.

When to Use

• User asks to build an app for the macOS menubar, status bar, or notch
• Adding a menubar presence to an existing macOS app
• Debugging sandbox rejections or entitlement errors in a SwiftUI app

Workflow

1. Project Setup

Create a new macOS App target in Xcode:

• Interface: SwiftUI
• App Sandbox: Enabled (required for App Store)
• Bundle ID: com.yourname.AppName
• Deployment target: macOS 13+ (for MenuBarExtra)

In Info.plist, set:

<key>LSUIElement</key>
<true/>

This hides the app from the Dock: the menu bar becomes the only entry point.

2. MenuBarExtra (SwiftUI native)

@main
struct FocusApp: App {
    var body: some Scene {
        MenuBarExtra {
            ContentView()
                .frame(width: 320, height: 480)
        } label: {
            Label("Focus", systemImage: "timer")
        }
        .menuBarExtraStyle(.window)
    }
}

Use .menuBarExtraStyle(.window) for a popover-style panel. Use .menuBarExtraStyle(.menu) for a dropdown menu.

3. Notch Detection

On MacBooks with a notch, the safe area changes. Detect and adapt:

func isNotchPresent() -> Bool {
    guard let screen = NSScreen.main else { return false }
    // The notch area is excluded from visibleFrame top
    let screenHeight = screen.frame.height
    let visibleTop = screen.visibleFrame.maxY
    return visibleTop < screenHeight
}

Position windows below the notch:

window.setFrameOrigin(NSPoint(
    x: window.frame.origin.x,
    y: NSScreen.main!.frame.height - window.frame.height - notchOffset
))

4. Sandbox Entitlements

Minimum .entitlements for a sandboxed menubar app:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>com.apple.security.app-sandbox</key>
    <true/>
    <!-- Add only what the app actually uses: -->
    <!-- <key>com.apple.security.network.client</key> -->
    <!-- <true/> -->
</dict>
</plist>

For focus/blocking features that need accessibility:

<key>com.apple.security.temporary-exception.apple-events</key>
<array>
    <string>com.apple.systemevents</string>
</array>

5. Accessibility Permission (Focus Detection)

To detect which app is in focus (required for distraction blocking):

import ApplicationServices

func requestAccessibilityPermission() -> Bool {
    let options: NSDictionary = [kAXTrustedCheckOptionPrompt.takeUnretainedValue() as String: true]
    return AXIsProcessTrustedWithOptions(options)
}

Call this on first launch and prompt the user to grant access in System Settings → Privacy → Accessibility.

6. Sound Effects

import AVFoundation

class SoundPlayer {
    private var player: AVAudioPlayer?

    func play(_ filename: String, extension ext: String = "mp3") {
        guard let url = Bundle.main.url(forResource: filename, withExtension: ext) else { return }
        player = try? AVAudioPlayer(contentsOf: url)
        player?.play()
    }
}

Add sound files to the Xcode target (check Target Membership in file inspector).

For system sounds (no file needed):

NSSound.beep()
// or
NSSound(named: .init("Hero"))?.play()

7. Keyboard Shortcuts

Global shortcuts (work when app is not focused); requires Accessibility permission:

NSEvent.addGlobalMonitorForEvents(matching: .keyDown) { event in
    if event.modifierFlags.contains([.command, .shift]) && event.keyCode == 36 { // ⌘⇧↩
        // Handle shortcut
    }
}

Local shortcuts (SwiftUI):

.keyboardShortcut("s", modifiers: [.command, .shift])

8. Persistent State (AppStorage)

@AppStorage("timerDuration") private var timerDuration: Double = 25 * 60
@AppStorage("soundEnabled") private var soundEnabled: Bool = true

For complex state, use UserDefaults with a suite name to share across extensions.

9. Polish Cycle

After each implementation slice:

Optional skills: Steps 1 and 3 require /critique and /whimsy-injector from the agent-skills catalog. Install them via skillshare if not already available; skip these steps if not installed.

1. Run /critique: evaluate against Apple HIG, WCAG contrast, interaction consistency
2. Fix all P0/P1 findings
3. Run /whimsy-injector on completion screens and idle states
4. Test on a machine without a notch to verify layout

10. App Store Preparation

See olko:apple-store-submit for the full submission and rejection-handling workflow.

Pre-submission checklist:

# Validate archive
xcodebuild archive -scheme <AppName> -archivePath build/<AppName>.xcarchive

# Check sandbox
codesign --verify --deep --strict build/<AppName>.xcarchive/Products/Applications/<AppName>.app

# Verify entitlements
codesign -d --entitlements :- build/<AppName>.xcarchive/Products/Applications/<AppName>.app

Key Pitfalls

Verification

• App does not appear in Dock (LSUIElement = true)
• MenuBarExtra icon renders as template image (respects dark/light mode)
• Sound plays on timer events
• Keyboard shortcuts respond both globally and locally
• App passes codesign --verify --deep --strict
• Layout correct on M1 MacBook (no notch) and M3 MacBook Pro (notch)