01
Why it exists
Screenshots, clipboard history, sensitive records, notes, collections, translation, exchange rates, and Mac maintenance often live across unrelated apps and web services. MyToolbox shortens the distance between these daily tasks without requiring personal data to be continually uploaded for small conveniences.
It is not intended to replace every specialist app. It creates one consistent set of native windows, quick actions, permissions, and data rules for frequent and repetitive personal workflows.
02
Product structure
- Main window: manages seven built-in modules, security, storage, migration, and plugin policy
- Command-K: searches and runs host or plugin actions from MyToolbox and other apps
- Work Mode: right-side, menu-bar, and horizontal surfaces reuse the same module data
- Extension platform: third-party modules run through a public Bridge, on-demand authorization, encrypted storage, and audits
03
Product principles
- Local-first: core data is stored first in a Mac directory chosen by the user
- Explicit ownership: every module manages only its own settings and data
- Least privilege: networking, files, cleanup, autofill, and plugin capabilities are confirmed at the call site
- Native behavior: preserve macOS windows, editing, input methods, shortcuts, and permission rules
- Recoverability: important writes use atomic operations, manifests, rollback, or explicit migration boundaries
- Measured performance: modules load lazily while scans, images, networking, and encoding leave the main thread
04
Built-in capabilities
- Clipboard Manager and native screenshots
- My Vault and protected records
- My Notes and distraction-free writing
- My Collections and Finder links
- Translation Assistant and cross-app selection
- Global Exchange and trend analysis
- Mac Optimization and privacy reports
- Command-K, Work Mode, full migration, and whole-app offline mode
05
Recent progress
The current build includes three Work Mode surfaces, a unified card host, keyboard navigation, and global recall. Command-K can orchestrate host features and schema 12 plugin commands.
Translation Assistant adds cross-app drag selection and reversible clipboard transactions. The extension platform now covers signatures, encrypted packages, on-demand authorization, seven-day audits, update rollback, controlled networking, and authenticated native companions.
06
Development status
MyToolbox remains a personal test build. It requires macOS 14 or later; the current local build is arm64 and primarily validated on Apple silicon. Interface details, Intel builds, compatibility, and extension protocols will continue to change.
Mac Optimization never presents scan clues as antivirus conclusions. Always inspect source, purpose, and impact before bulk cleanup. Third-party native capabilities are limited to signature-verified official or certified modules.
07
Author and open-source acknowledgements
MyToolbox is independently designed and developed by David Taylor, growing from a long-running effort to organize personal data, photography workflows, writing, and macOS utility experiences.
The project uses Swift, SwiftUI, Swift Package Manager, libwebp, and AttributedString. Product and safety ideas for Mac Optimization reference Mole, Tencent Lemon Cleaner, and MacSai. Cross-app selection research studied the public approaches of Pot and Selection without copying or linking GPL source. Dependency licenses remain in the app bundle and project documentation.