The latest articles on DEV Community by Manan Shah (@manan_shah_4ce9b1ac2a4a6d). https://dev.to/manan_shah_4ce9b1ac2a4a6d https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4170072%2Fcd187dcf-5314-4212-a0d5-035ba477b3a7.png https://dev.to/manan_shah_4ce9b1ac2a4a6d en Manan Shah Thu, 08 Oct 2026 03:02:28 +0000 https://dev.to/manan_shah_4ce9b1ac2a4a6d/i-built-dialdo-a-phone-number-that-can-ask-your-mac-to-do-work-1n6e https://dev.to/manan_shah_4ce9b1ac2a4a6d/i-built-dialdo-a-phone-number-that-can-ask-your-mac-to-do-work-1n6e <p>I kept running into the same problem: I was away from my desk, had my phone, and needed something that was sitting on my Mac. Remote desktop on a small screen is awkward. I wanted to make a call and describe the outcome instead.</p> <p>So I built <strong>DialDo</strong>. It gives each user a personal phone number linked to their Mac. You call, describe a task, confirm the overall request once, and the Mac app works through the steps. One example: <em>Find the newest PDF in Downloads, summarize it, save the notes on my Desktop, and text me when it's done.</em></p> <h3> How it works </h3> <p>Twilio receives the call and sends it to a small gateway on Railway. The gateway identifies which number was called and routes that conversation over an authenticated outbound connection to the right Mac. OpenAI transcribes the call and helps plan the task. The Mac app then uses local file, document, browser, and macOS automation tools to carry it out. The gateway doesn't expose a general remote shell into the computer.</p> <p>The trickiest part has been completion, not just execution. Opening an app is not the same as finishing the user's request. DialDo tries to check evidence from each step before it says a task is done. It also keeps the spoken replies short so the call doesn't become a running commentary.</p> <h3> Where it stands </h3> <p>This is an early release for Apple Silicon Macs. It can handle useful file, PDF, browser, and app workflows, but UI automation is imperfect: a changed website, sign-in prompt, or ambiguous instruction can still stop a task. The Mac must be awake, online, and signed in, and you need to approve the macOS permissions for the tools you want to use. Voice and planning use cloud services; computer actions run on the Mac. DialDo currently costs <strong>$9.99/month</strong>, with no free trial.</p> <p>You can see the product and download it at <a href="https://dialdo.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">dialdo.com</a>.</p> <p>I'm especially curious: what task would you trust a phone-to-computer agent to do while you were away from your desk, and what would you want it to <em>never</em> do without checking with you first?</p> <p>— <a href="https://linkedin.com/in/mananshah2254" rel="noopener noreferrer">Manan Shah</a></p> showdev ai productivity automation