DEV Community: Michael B

QuietWare Is Joining Indie App Sales

Michael B — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 07:30:12 +0000

Explore the QuietWare Sale

From July 28 through July 31, QuietWare is taking part in Indie App Sales, a collaborative event highlighting thoughtful software made by independent developers. Every QuietWare app is 50% off on itch.io and Gumroad, and ScreenShelf is also discounted on the Mac App Store.

As a solo developer, this event means more than lowering prices. It gives independent creators a shared spotlight and helps people discover smaller apps built with genuine care.

I’m grateful to the Indie App Sales team for bringing developers together, and to everyone who has downloaded, purchased, shared, or supported a QuietWare app. Explore the QuietWare collection, then take a look at the other independent apps participating in the event.

50% off through July 31.

I Added GeekDock as a 24-Hour Bonus to My macOS App Bundle

Michael B — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 03:55:09 +0000

I’m giving the QuietWare Workspace Collection one final update before the promotion ends.

For the last 24 hours, GeekDock has been added as a bonus app at no extra cost.

Get the QuietWare Workspace Collection

The bundle now includes

ScreenShelf: Organize files, links, notes, and apps on visual shelves.
FocusForm: Save and restore complete Mac workspaces.
File Fetch: Quickly access recent files and copied text.
PopNote: Create lightweight floating reminders.
GeekDock: Customize your Mac’s Dock, menu bar, folders, and icons.

All five apps are built for macOS with:

One-time pricing
No subscriptions
No required accounts

Final 24-hour price

The full collection is currently available for $9.99.

I’m an independent developer building small Mac tools around everyday workflow frustrations. Every purchase helps support future updates and new releases.

The promotion ends in 24 hours.

What do people love and hate about Mac? I wanted to know...

Michael B — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 22:01:18 +0000

As of today, Our Mac Problems & Praises is live and ready for submissions.

quietwareapps.com/our-mac-problems

(All posts and comments are reviewed before going live for security and moderation. Thank you for understanding.)

I build Mac apps. So far, I’ve created 10 of them, with around 1,000 downloads across the collection.

Most of them began as solutions to frustrations I experienced while using my own Mac. But while building them, I realized I had been paying far more attention to what bothered me than to everything macOS already gets right.

Some Mac problems can be solved with a third-party app. Others are simply part of the experience. But there are also countless features, details, and everyday conveniences that make using a Mac genuinely enjoyable.

There are already plenty of forums and subreddits for Mac users, but I wanted to build a small community space of my own. Somewhere that gives equal room to the frustrating parts of macOS and the surprisingly great ones.

If you use a Mac, think about one thing that frustrates you or one thing you genuinely appreciate, and submit it. It doesn’t need to be a long story or perfectly written. It just needs to be real.

Five Local-First Mac Apps I Built to Fix Everyday Workflow Problems

Michael B — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 18:48:10 +0000

Over the last few months, I’ve been turning small workflow problems I encounter on my Mac into focused utilities.

Rather than building one enormous productivity suite, I wanted each app to solve a specific frustration well.

I also wanted to build software the way I prefer to use it: local-first, available through a one-time purchase, and usable without creating another account or paying for another subscription.

Here are five of the apps I’ve built so far.

ScreenShelf

My desktop used to become a temporary storage zone for screenshots, folders, documents, links, and files I needed for active projects.

Folders helped with long-term storage, but they were not always useful for things I wanted to keep visible and nearby.

ScreenShelf creates a customizable visual shelf for:

Files and folders
Screenshots and images
Links
Text
Applications
Frequently used project materials

You can organize items across separate pages, customize the appearance of each page, and keep different groups of materials available for different projects.

It also includes a Recents area that surfaces recent screenshots, which is helpful when the small screenshot preview disappears before you can interact with it.

ScreenShelf is essentially the space between a cluttered desktop and a deeply nested folder system.

Learn more about ScreenShelf

PopNote

Some reminders are too small for a full task-management system.

You might need to remember to send a file in twenty minutes, check something after lunch, or complete one small step before ending the day.

PopNote is a lightweight menu bar app that creates timed pop-up reminders on your Mac.

The reminders appear as small visual bubbles rather than traditional notification banners. You can choose a time, add an icon, and let the note reappear when you need it.

It is designed for temporary reminders that should remain noticeable without becoming another project to organize.

Learn more about PopNote

File Fetch

I frequently download, save, rename, copy, and move files throughout the day.

The problem is that recently used files often disappear into Downloads, Desktop, Documents, or whichever folder was active when I saved them.

File Fetch lives in the menu bar and provides quick access to recently used files and copied text.

From there, you can perform common actions such as:

Open a file
Reveal it in Finder
Rename it
Move it
Copy it
Copy its path
Send it to the Trash

It is not intended to replace Finder. It is a faster doorway to the files you were already using.

Learn more about File Fetch

GeekDock

macOS includes some useful Dock customization settings, but there are limits to how much you can change its appearance.

GeekDock is a visual customization app for the Dock, menu bar, folders, and files.

It includes options for:

Dock underlay colors
Gradients and gradient directions
Wallpaper-matching styles
Menu bar customization
Folder and file icons
Light and dark icon treatments
Reusable theme presets

The goal is not to cover the Mac desktop in visual effects. It is to make the interface feel more personal while keeping it clean and usable.

Some glass-related visual features are designed specifically for Apple Silicon Macs.

Learn more about GeekDock

FocusForm

Switching projects often means rebuilding an entire workspace.

You close one group of apps, open another, find the correct files and websites, and arrange every window again.

FocusForm lets you save a workspace as a reusable snapshot.

A saved FocusForm can include:

Applications
Windows and their positions
Files and folders
Websites
Wallpaper
Other materials associated with the workspace

You can create separate forms for coding, writing, studying, administration, entertainment, or different client projects.

Instead of manually rebuilding everything, you select the workspace you want and restore it.

Learn more about FocusForm

Why separate apps?

I could have combined these ideas into a larger productivity platform, but I prefer tools that are easier to understand.

ScreenShelf organizes active materials. PopNote handles lightweight reminders. File Fetch retrieves recent files. GeekDock personalizes the desktop. FocusForm restores complete workspaces.

Each app can be used independently, and people only need to install the tools that solve problems they actually have.

The paid apps are currently $3.99 each, with no required subscription or account.

I also have five other QuietWare apps that remain free while they are below their first 100 downloads.

A four-app Workspace Collection is available for $9.99 instead of $15.96 for anyone interested in the bundled workflow tools.

You can read the complete guide here:

Five Local-First Mac Apps for a More Organized Workspace

You can also explore the full QuietWare collection:

Visit QuietWare

Which of these everyday Mac problems feels most familiar to you?

Join the Community

I recently started r/QuietWareApps, a community for Mac workflows, indie apps, setup showcases, feature ideas, and local-first software.

App Update July 2026

Michael B — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:36:43 +0000

Total QuietWare Collection Update

I just wanted to hop on here and give a huge thank-you for all the support QuietWare has received over the past month.

I honestly didn't expect so many people to download and enjoy my apps as much as they have. Seeing people find real value in something I've created brings me an immense amount of joy and fulfillment, so genuinely, thank you.

QuietWare started as a collection of simple solutions to annoying little problems I encountered while using my Mac. Now, it's beginning to evolve into something much bigger than I originally imagined it could be.

Stats as of Wednesday, July 15th, 2026

919 Downloads | 4,057 Views

The QuietWare Collection

ScreenShelf
FocusForm
PopNote
File Fetch
Hourglass Timer
MoodSprout
Sync Mode
TRAYL
ScreenEra
GeekDock

The collection has now grown to 10 macOS apps, with new features, refinements, and updates continuing across the entire lineup.

I always try to either solve a real problem or add a little more personality to an already established type of app. That philosophy will continue guiding everything I build next.

Feel free to drop any productivity or macOS-related app ideas in the comments. You might eventually see one become part of the QuietWare lineup.

Join the Community

I recently started r/QuietWareApps, a community for Mac workflows, indie apps, setup showcases, feature ideas, and local-first software.

I added an in-app currency to my indie macOS screen-time app

Michael B — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 20:41:03 +0000

I recently released the newest app in my little collection of indie macOS apps. This one is pretty niche, but honestly, I think it might be one of my favorite things I’ve built so far.

It’s called ScreenEra.

ScreenEra is a calming, gamified screen-time companion for macOS. It tracks the time you spend on your computer, but instead of making screen time feel like some cold productivity statistic, it turns it into something a little more atmospheric, playful, and rewarding. The app pairs your screen-time tracking with ambient backgrounds, animated scenes, and soundscapes. It also includes XP, badges, and small progression systems that make your time at the computer feel a bit more like a game. Pretty cool, right?

There are different universes to choose from.
The original six are:

Corporate: Clean, polished, and focused.
Fantasy: A softer, magical atmosphere for cozy work sessions.
Cyber: Neon, futuristic, and a little dramatic.
Arcade: Bright, playful, and game-like.
Space: Quiet, cosmic, and floaty.
Cozy: Warm, calm, and gentle.

Each universe comes with its own still background, animated background, and audio soundscape.

Now this is where the currency comes in...

I created an in-app currency called Era Coins. As you use ScreenEra and spend time in different sessions, you can earn Era Coins. Those coins can then be used inside the app to unlock more visual themes, backgrounds, soundscapes, and little customization pieces.

I wanted the currency to feel fun, but not manipulative.

I didn’t want it to be some aggressive mobile game economy where everything is designed to pressure you. ScreenEra is still supposed to feel calm. The currency is there to add progression, personality, and a little “ooh, I want to unlock that next” energy.

Basically, I wanted to make screen-time tracking feel less like punishment and more like collecting little rewards for simply showing up. That’s been one of the bigger themes of ScreenEra as a whole:
What if tracking your computer time didn’t feel judgmental?

Most screen-time tools are built around guilt. They tell you that you’ve been on your computer too long. They show you the numbers, make you feel bad, and then expect that shame to magically turn into discipline.

I wanted ScreenEra to feel different.

A little softer.
A little prettier.
A little more game-like.
A little more forgiving.

Because for a lot of us, our computers are where we work, create, write, code, design, build, research, and unwind. Screen time is not always the enemy. Sometimes it’s where your life is happening.
So instead of treating every minute like a failure, ScreenEra tries to turn those minutes into something you can actually see, hear, collect, and shape.

Era Coins are part of that.

They give the app a small economy, a sense of progression, and a reason to come back and keep customizing your little screen-time universe.

ScreenEra is available now as part of my indie macOS app collection.
It’s currently free / pay what you want, and if you enjoy it, support is always deeply appreciated. Every download, share, donation, comment, or bit of feedback helps me keep building these strange little Mac apps.

I’m still early in this whole indie app journey, but ScreenEra feels like one of those projects where I can really see the personality starting to come through.

And honestly... Era Coins might be one of my favorite parts so far.

Here's the entire collection so far:
🎮 itch.io
🪩 GumRoad

Join the Community

I recently started r/QuietWareApps, a community for Mac workflows, indie apps, setup showcases, feature ideas, and local-first software.

This is me asking the universe... "Is this enough?"

Michael B — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 18:45:49 +0000

[Here's my CARRD]

 I know these kinds of posts are overdone, so I'll spare you the promo/AI ad and give you something real. I've attached my Carrd site with all my info if you're interested in supporting me or following along.

I didn't go to college, nor did I graduate from high school. I ended up getting my GED at age 17. I have no notable achievements or accolades I can flex. What I do have is wicked determination and creativity. If I can do anything... It's turning an idea into a reality. I think that's one of my most valuable skills, and I really do cherish and nurture it as much as I can.

That being said, I've tried using my creativity in many ways. I've written a fantasy novel nobody wanted, I've failed at 3 startups, and was a freelance graphic designer for a while before AI came into the picture and wiped us all out. It hasn't been easy, but boy, have I learned a lot... not only about myself, but also about the resilience it takes to achieve your dreams even when you're losing hard.

I don't really have any friends, and my family is kind of split up all over the country, but I do have a very supportive partner who has been there with me through every failed venture I've dreamed up and tried to pursue. Without them... well... I don't know where or who I'd be. So here's a special thank you to my partner. I love you.

My newest venture they've been supporting me through is solo app development. The kind that's like "Hey, what if this did this or that?" and then spend days and weeks obsessing over it until finally... it exists. Dreaming up something that doesn't exist yet and then giving it your all to bring it to life... now that's true magic right there.

It's something people can spend their entire life trying to do, but never having the willpower, confidence, or time to ever do. And I know I'm not winning a Nobel Peace Prize or winning an Oscar. I'm simply sharing my hard work with the world. Proudly, and wondering if what I have to give will matter to anyone.

This is more than a promo post about a collection of apps I've exhausted myself mentally, physically, and spiritually to create. This is me asking the universe, "Is this enough?" "Have I found it?" And whether the answer is no or not yet, I've still enjoyed every minute (and I do mean every minute) creating things for people to use. To be of service to someone other than myself for once.

Over the last few months, I've dreamed up and created a growing collection of macOS apps that I genuinely believe are worth sharing. Sorry if you don't have a Mac device and you've read this far, but if this blows up and or there's enough demand... I have a Windows machine that I can use to recreate these apps for different kinds of devices and people. I'm up for the challenge, so let me know if that's something you'd look forward to seeing happen.

As of today, June 21st, 2026, I've brought eight apps into the world. (as if I've given birth or something 🤣) The idea came to me like any "good" idea or idea worth acting on comes... spontaneously, and stemming from a bunch of other "bad" ideas.

I was sitting at my desk thinking of what it was I wanted to do next. I thought... Maybe I could make a desktop Tamagotchi pet...

No... that's been done before. A lot.

And then a decent idea came to me... what if I could blend/fuse the seams of desktop windows to create seamless flows without harsh lines. Like unified windows. Well, that idea turned out to be very, very difficult to pull off. Dang near impossible really, especially with the limitations of customization Apple has around window manipulation. So I scratched the idea.

Then, for some reason, the nostalgic thought of custom cursors came to the forefront. The ones that sparkle, or animate, or trail particles as it moves. and then BOOM 💥

You've heard of cursor customization, but what about window customization? I looked it up and have yet to find anything exactly like this. So there's a prideful part of me that's like, "Did I finally create something new?" Maybe it already exists, and I've just missed it, but my newest app is called TRAYL. Like TRAIL, but with a Y...for funsies.

It's a window and file movement customization utility for macOS. You can select any Apple emoji and customize the trailing effects of windows, and desktop files/folders. There are really cool drop animations, and you can even customize different animations for different active windows open on your computer. So if you want Safari to have earth emojis trailing behind it when you move it, but you want an open picture of your partner to emit little sunshine emojis too, that's possible.

One of the coolest parts about all of the apps I've dreamed up is that they all have auto-updaters installed by default, so if there are features that users really want, or bugs that people find that need to be fixed quickly, I can do it all very fast. And you would get the update instantly.

This is all one long post just to say, I've made something.

And I know that.

But there's so much more that's led up to this moment, and I thought it wouldn't be as sweet if I didn't at least introduce myself and give you something real for once. So thank you so, so, so much for taking the time to read this, and I really hope that if you do try this app or any of the others, they bring real purpose and joy to your life. That's why all of the apps are free/pay-what-you-want.

Because that's all I'm really trying to do.

Chat GPT Codex Empowers My Solo Dev Journey

Michael B — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:51:03 +0000

I'm relatively new to coding and recently bought the $200-a-month Codex plan, and it has continued to save my apps over and over again.

There are so many factors that go into an app. Market demand, the code, the visual assets, the UI/UX, the functionality, the problem it solves, and so much more...

The fact that I basically have a coding partner that I pay about $7 a day to work with me for many, many hours and help me turn my vision into a reality is one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had.

It takes away that stress of "Can I solve this bug quickly, or am I going to be working on the same issue for a week straight?"

It's simply gone.

Now, I know there are privacy concerns and other factors people always raise as reasons not to use AI to build your apps. Honestly, I hear you, but in my opinion, as long as you're not collecting personal data from your users and your apps are local (like all of mine are), then I don't find that to be a strong argument.

As far as stealing creative work from other people to craft your own... that I'm on the fence about, simply because I'm still learning.

That being said, I'm having the time of my life creating safe, local apps that hundreds of people are downloading and using. I'm paying for a tool that's readily available to anyone. And if I don't do it... the next guy will, and I'll miss my chance. You gotta get it while the gettin's good. And at this point in our society, the gettin' is REALLY GOOD.

So PLEASE , if you're solving genuine problems or making a user's experience better in any way, I think it's worth it. Because, as I said, if you don't, the next guy will. And I'm not missing my chance to do something I completely enjoy and get so much fulfillment from. It's just not happening. And I'm not sorry.

More apps and app updates will be coming in the near future.

We're not going anywhere!

June App Update

Michael B — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 05:30:51 +0000

Total Quietware Collection Update

I just wanted to hop on here and give a huge thank-you for all the support I've received over the past two weeks. I honestly didn't expect so many people to enjoy my apps as much as they do. It brings me immense joy and fulfillment, so thank you.

This started as a simple solution to annoying little problems I had on my Mac. And now it's beginning to evolve into something much more. More than what I thought it could ever be.

Stats as of Fri, Jun 19th, 2026:

346 Downloads | 1,854 Views

VERSIONS NOW WITH AUTO UPDATES

Sync Mode v1.0.4

Focus Form v1.0.1

Screen Shelf v1.0.5

Pop Note v1.0.4

Mood Sprout v1.0.3

File Fetch v1.0.3

Hourglass Timer v1.0.3

I'm about to start working on my 8th app very soon. I always try to solve a problem or add flair to an already established type of app, so this next one will follow suit. Feel free to drop any productivity / macOS-related app ideas in the comments... You might see it in the lineup.

This is only the beginning.

Join the Community

I recently started r/QuietWareApps, a community for Mac workflows, indie apps, setup showcases, feature ideas, and local-first software.

I accidentally became a solo dev studio

Michael B — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 20:39:39 +0000

About a month ago, I didn't really think of myself as a solo dev studio.

I was just a person with too many ideas, too much caffeine, and a very dangerous habit of saying, “Wait... I can build this?”

Then 1 app became 2. 2 became 3. And then somehow I had a small collection of macOS apps sitting in front of me, all built around the same general feeling:

Software can be useful to others and still be personal.

That became the quiet thread through everything I made. Not huge apps. Not startup pitch deck apps. Not “change the future” apps.

Just small, focused tools that solve little problems in a way that feels aesthetic and simple.

One app helps you keep temporary files and notes nearby.
One helps restore a workspace.
One is a little reminder bubble system.
One is a timer.
One tracks mood and journaling through a growing plant.
One turns app stats into a tiny dopamine machine because, yes, I got tired of refreshing dashboards like a goblin.

And the funny thing is that each app came from a very normal frustration.

“I wish my desktop had a shelf.”
“I wish I could save this whole workspace.”
“I wish reminders felt less boring.”
“I wish checking app downloads felt more fun.”
“I wish productivity software that wasn't a guilt trip.”

That has been the biggest lesson for me so far. A good small app doesn't always need a massive idea. Sometimes it just needs a tiny annoyance that you care about enough to polish. Building all of these has also changed how I see software. I used to think an app had to be big to matter. Big feature lists, big audiences, big launches, or big perfect roadmaps.

A small app can be cozy, weird, have one job and do it with personality, or even make someones computer feel slightly more like personalized.

The hard part, of course, is that building alone is intense.
I'm the designer, developer, tester, support team, the person making the screenshots, and the person rewriting the product page at 3 a.m. because one sentence feels wrong.

I'm also the person wondering if anyone will care when you finally post it.

Launching small software is strangely emotional, too. You can spend days or even weeks obsessing over tiny details... finally release it and then sit there refreshing stats like the judge is about to hand you a verdict.

A view feels exciting.
A download feels amazing.
A donation feels unreal.

But I think that is also what makes building in public is so interesting.

It sort of turns software building into a story.

The messy code.
The late nights.
The little wins.
The annoying bugs.

The moments where something finally works and you just stare at the screen like, “Oh sh*t, I actually did it.”

I still do not know where all of this goes. Maybe one app finds its people. Maybe all of them slowly grow. Maybe the whole thing just becomes a collection of small tools that make a handful of people happy. Honestly, that would still mean something to me because building these apps reminded me why I like software in the first place.

Not because every project has to become a company.

But because sometimes you get to take a tiny frustration, shape it into something real, give it a name, give it an icon, and put it out into the world and that is still kind of magical.

So yes, I guess I accidentally became a solo dev studio.

A very tired one.

A very caffeinated one.

But a real one.

And I think I am going to keep building.

Reads Rhythm, Not Content.

Michael B — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 18:44:01 +0000

I built a macOS Focus App That Reads Your Rhythm, Not Your Content.

I have been building a small macOS app called Sync Mode, and the whole idea came from one very simple feeling:

I did not want another productivity app yelling at me.

No strict timers.
No streak guilt.
No fake motivational dashboard telling me I am either “crushing it” or “failing.”

I wanted something quieter than that. Something that could sit in the background, pay attention to the shape of how I work, and gently adjust the atmosphere around me. So I started building Sync Mode, a macOS focus app that responds to your current work rhythm.

The app looks at local rhythm signals like:

typing pace
pauses
mouse movement
click rhythm
app switching
idle time

Then it estimates what kind of state you might be in:

Calm: For slower work, reading, planning, journaling, or easing into a task.
Focused: For that steady “I am locked in but not frantic” kind of work.
Energized: For the fast typing, high momentum, brain-is-sprinting moments.
Scattered: For those moments where you are bouncing around, switching things, clicking everywhere, and your focus is basically holding on by a thread.

The important part is that Sync Mode does not read what you type.

No typed words.
No documents.
No clipboard.
No URLs.
No cloud tracking.

It reads rhythm, not content.

That privacy piece mattered a lot to me. I wanted the app to feel intelligent without being creepy. There is a massive difference between “this app can sense that I am working quickly” and “this app is watching everything I write.”

I wanted the first one. Very much not the second one.

The current version can shift between different modes and adjust things like soundscape, visual atmosphere, dimming, blur, and a small mode orb that reflects your current state.

The part I have been most excited about is the focus dimming feature.

When you are working, Sync Mode can gently dim and blur the space behind your active window so the thing you are doing feels more centered. It makes the Mac feel less chaotic without fully locking you into some dramatic fullscreen mode.

It is subtle, but when it works, it feels really nice. Almost like your workspace is breathing with you a little. I know that sounds dramatic, but I stand by it.

This app is still small, still evolving, and still very much a solo dev project. I am building it because I want my computer to feel more supportive while I work. Not louder. Not more demanding. Just more in sync with me.

That is the whole goal.

A focus app that does not force you into a system.
A focus app that listens to your rhythm.
A focus app that quietly changes the room around your work.
That is Sync Mode.

I am still polishing it, testing it across Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, and tightening the way the modes respond. But it is getting closer to the version I had in my head, and that part feels really good.

If you build apps, write, design, code, or spend way too much time trying to get yourself into the right headspace, I think you will understand why I wanted this to exist.

Sometimes the problem is not that we need another timer. Sometimes we just need our workspace to stop fighting us. Sync Mode is a macOS focus app that adapts to how you work, while keeping your actual work private.

That is the magic I am chasing, at least.

Link: https://quietware.itch.io/sync-mode

Hi, I’m Michael 👋 I build small macOS apps under QuietWare… tiny tools for focus, organization, and oddly specific problems. I’m here to share launches, bugs, late night breakthroughs, and the very real chaos of building solo. ✨

Michael B — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:59:23 +0000