[Current Version Beta 6.024] - Many features added.
Hello everybody. I am new here, and somewhat new to MacOS.
After fighting MacOS Dock for a while, and trying every uBar type start menu and taskbar app I could find, I decided it was time to dive into XCode and see what I could come up with. I have been away from forums and code for a long time, so it has been a learning curve for modern framework. I am just a normal computer geek, I have no idea what I'm doing lol .... But I think it turned out wonderful.
I am not a business, do not own or run a business, and am the designer/developer of this application using Swift/XCode on MacOS26.
I wanted a simple, low system resource using, intuitive power user type addition to Dock in the form of a taskbar and start menu. I went.a little overboard with a couple features but I love it. - After funbling through other apps, purchasing some, trialing others, nothing - I mean nothing - hit the mark. So I went to work, and here we are.
I KNOW there are others that are searching for something like this, or not happy with what they have. I also know many people wont care because either the dock works great for them already or they grew up on new fangled tech and never really went the old school route. That is fine either way.
I have been using this for a little while now, checking battery, making sure pause functions work when mac is asleep, clicking everything 1000x to check for bugs, but just know it is a "Beta" release but seems to work fine. I have been using Apple silicon on MacOS26.
This is free for you to use personally - for personal use only - as donateware. That is totally optional and I will not ever try to promote or push that. I have used so many donate-to-me applications over the years (and donated) that I feel it is time to give back - especially for something like this. The only reasons I would every consider a license fee in the future would be hosting costs, but right now that is a non-issue.
So this application, I'm sure many people would be looking for a Linux/Windows-7 (in the style of, not a clone) Start Menu and taskbar, as a Dock replacement for MacOS. I did not focus on dock replacement because I do use the dock - I just wanted additional control. You could use it as primary option but it was not intended to be that. I did not try to clone or copy anything I just started from scratch and the app evolve.
It is called: zMac - ZM Applications Container - The start menu is called MAC - My Applications Container.
This has become a nearly full-blown start menu taskbar doc replacement, or sidekick for MacOS. I still use both.
This is a small low idle cpu usage app that adds a taskbar and start menu, with many options you can set in zMac settings. It will auto hide, group window tabs if you desire, not group, or just group what you want to. You can create and modify group folders, move tabs, add/remove/rearrange the Quickly Launch (pin) area, displays the clock time and date, has built in shortcuts to always open new windows for Safari, Finder, and Text Editor, displays system notifications on window tabs and groups (when app needs attention such as receiving a text message). You can hide or close all windows, some windows, change the way taskbar overflows to an auto hidden or fully displayed panel, and even un-group tabs when groups are on. You can set default or temporary colors on tabs and groups, use volume and brightness with mouse wheel, and my favorite part- control-escape to open the menu.
It is built on MacOS 26.2, 26.6.2, and xcode/swift.
This app does NOT collect your information, show adds, collect advertising BS, talk to an online server, or anything "suspicious" - It DOES need accessibility permissions for access to active windows. *If MacOS fails to authorize the permissions, the app will work but not fully, and not all windows will be displayed in tabs. Check the settings and make sure the ❌ is a ✅, and/or use the RESET button to clear and re-request permissions. It will also ask to access files in a folder IF you use the shortcut links that point directly to a folder. - You will obviously have to allow permission to run because "this app was downloaded from the internet".
It is packaged as zMac.app inside a zip file. It is only signed with XCode and is not on the app store.
***Edit - One of the primary key behaviors is (not) to show the primary app window (that is what the dock is for) - so if it is doing this (If for example it is showing your Safari app tab AND Google window tab, this isn't correct) If something doesn't seem right update MacOS.
I will be here to stay, one way or another. Now that I am locked into the Apple eco system, I will have questions, and apps. Let me know what you think.
Download from my website here:
zMac — Taskbar & Start Menu for macOS
A personal donateware taskbar and Dock alternative built around the features I felt the macOS Dock was missing.
zmac.c9j5hxsyzg.workers.dev
Later!
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