Cntxtr - macOS AI Workflow Assistant

A native Swift/SwiftUI menu bar app for capturing text snippets from any application and using a local LLM (Ollama) for context-aware summarization. Organize snippets into multiple contexts, edit them, and generate AI summaries—all running locally on your machine with no cloud dependencies.

Features

• Text Capture: Capture text snippets from any app using global keyboard shortcuts
  • Capture Selection (⌥⌘E): Captures selected text without modifying clipboard
  • Copy & Capture (⌥⌘T): Copies to clipboard AND adds to context
• Multiple Contexts: Organize snippets into named contexts (e.g., "Feature PR", "Research Notes", "Meeting Notes")
• Context Management:
  • Switch between contexts with keyboard shortcut
  • Context menu actions: Save to file, Summarize & Copy, Clear snippets
  • Menu bar icon shows current context number
• Local AI Integration:
  • Uses Ollama for local LLM inference
  • Generate structured summaries of captured snippets
  • Customizable system prompts
  • Configurable response length limits
• Snippet Management:
  • Edit snippets inline
  • Delete individual snippets
  • Clear all snippets from a context
  • Auto-delete empty snippets
• Privacy-First: All data stays on your machine, no cloud services

Requirements

• macOS 13.0+ (Ventura)
• Xcode 14.0+
• Swift 5.9+
• Ollama installed and running locally

Installation

Prerequisites

1. Install Ollama:

   brew install ollama
   # or download from https://ollama.ai

2. Start Ollama service:

   ollama serve

3. Download a model (optional, can be done through the app):

   ollama pull phi3:mini
   # or any other model you prefer

Building from Source

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone <repository-url>
   cd cntxtr

2. Open the project in Xcode:

   open cntxtr.xcodeproj

3. Build and run:

   • Select the Cntxtr scheme
   • Press ⌘R to build and run

4. On first launch:

   • Grant Accessibility permissions when prompted
   • Configure keyboard shortcuts
   • Download a model through the Preferences panel

Usage

First Launch

1. Complete the onboarding flow to:
   • Grant Accessibility permissions (required for text capture)
   • Configure keyboard shortcuts
   • Download your first LLM model

Capturing Text

1. Select text in any application
2. Press ⌥⌘E to capture selected text (doesn't modify clipboard)
   • OR press ⌥⌘T to copy to clipboard AND capture
3. The snippet is added to your current context with metadata (source app, timestamp)

Managing Contexts

• Switch Contexts: Press ⌥⌘[ to cycle to the next context
• Create New Context: Click the menu bar icon → "New Context..."
• Context Menu: Right-click any context in the menu for:
  • Save to File: Export all snippets to a text file
  • Summarize & Copy: Generate AI summary and copy to clipboard
  • Clear Snippets: Remove all snippets (with confirmation)

AI Features

1. Open AI Panel: Click menu bar icon → "Open Cntxtr..."
2. View Snippets: See all captured snippets for the current context
3. Generate Summary: Click "Generate Summary" to create an AI-powered summary
4. Edit Snippets: Click any snippet to edit its content
5. Delete Snippets: Click the delete button on any snippet

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
⌥⌘E	Capture selected text (without clipboard)
⌥⌘T	Copy & Capture (copies to clipboard AND adds to context)
⌥⌘[	Cycle to next context
⌥⌘S	Summarize current context & copy to clipboard

All shortcuts can be customized in Preferences.

Configuration

System Prompt

Customize the AI's behavior by setting a custom system prompt in Preferences → AI Settings. The default prompt is optimized for context summarization.

Response Length

Limit AI response length by setting "Max Response Tokens" in Preferences → AI Settings. Default: 500 tokens.

Model Management

• Add Models: Enter any Ollama model name in Preferences → Model Settings
• Pull Models: Download new models directly from the app
• Switch Models: Select from downloaded models in the dropdown

Permissions

Cntxtr requires Accessibility permissions to capture text from other applications. This permission is:

• Requested during onboarding
• Required for the "Capture Selection" shortcut
• Can be granted in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility

Project Structure

Cntxtr/
├── Cntxtr/                    # App target
│   ├── App/
│   │   ├── CntxtrApp.swift
│   │   ├── MenuBarController.swift
│   │   └── WindowManager.swift
│   ├── Assets.xcassets/       # App icon and logo assets
│   ├── UI/
│   │   ├── MenuBarView.swift
│   │   ├── ContextListView.swift
│   │   ├── AIPanelView.swift
│   │   ├── PreferencesView.swift
│   │   ├── OnboardingView.swift
│   │   └── ToastView.swift
│   └── Shortcuts/
│       └── ShortcutManager.swift
├── CntxtrCore/                # Swift Package
│   ├── Models/
│   │   ├── Context.swift
│   │   └── Snippet.swift
│   ├── Persistence/
│   │   ├── PersistenceController.swift
│   │   └── CntxtrModel.xcdatamodeld/
│   ├── Services/
│   │   ├── ContextService.swift
│   │   ├── SnippetService.swift
│   │   ├── ClipboardManager.swift
│   │   └── AccessibilityService.swift
│   └── Llm/
│       ├── OllamaService.swift
│       ├── ModelManager.swift
│       └── PromptTemplates.swift
└── Scripts/
    ├── build_dmg.sh
    └── sign_and_notarize.sh

Architecture

• SwiftUI + AppKit: Native macOS UI with menu bar integration
• Core Data: Local persistence for contexts and snippets
• Ollama API: HTTP-based integration with local Ollama service
• Accessibility API: Direct text selection capture from any app
• Swift Package Manager: Modular architecture with CntxtrCore package

Development

Running Tests

# Run all tests
xcodebuild test -scheme Cntxtr -destination 'platform=macOS'

# Or use Xcode: ⌘U

Distribution

Signing and Notarization

1. Archive the app in Xcode (Product > Archive)
2. Export the archive
3. Run the signing script:

   ./Scripts/sign_and_notarize.sh path/to/Cntxtr.app

Creating DMG

./Scripts/build_dmg.sh 1.0.0

Troubleshooting

Text Capture Not Working

1. Ensure Accessibility permissions are granted in System Settings
2. Restart the app after granting permissions
3. Check that Ollama is running: ollama list

AI Summary Not Generating

1. Verify Ollama is running: ollama serve
2. Check that a model is downloaded: ollama list
3. Verify model name in Preferences matches downloaded model
4. Check Console.app for error logs

App Not Appearing in App Switcher

The app appears in the app switcher (⌘⇥) when windows are open. If no windows are open, it runs as a menu bar-only app.

License

See LICENSE.md for details.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

Acknowledgments

• Built with SwiftUI
• LLM integration via Ollama
• Keyboard shortcuts via KeyboardShortcuts