SketchyBar
A scriptable status bar for macOS that replaces or supplements the standard menu bar.
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About SketchyBar
SketchyBar draws a custom status bar on macOS. You define every item, such as clocks, workspace indicators and battery or network readouts, through a configuration file and shell scripts. You can change the configuration at any time while the bar is running.
It has an animation system, an event system that runs scripts when something changes, and mouse interaction for clickable items. The project publishes documentation, community setups and plugins to start from. It suits people who are comfortable with shell scripting and want full control over what their bar shows.
Strengths
- Every item is defined by your own scripts
- Configuration can be changed while the bar runs
- Event system and animations for dynamic items
- Community setups and plugins to start from
Limitations
- macOS only
- Needs shell scripting to get a useful setup
- No graphical settings panel
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source.
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Developer
- Felix Kratz
- Platforms
- macOS
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Mac users who like to script their own desktop status bar
- Categories
- System utilities, Window tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to SketchyBar
Compare allSoftware that can replace SketchyBar for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
Zebar
A tool for building custom taskbars, desktop widgets and popups on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Zebar builds custom bars, widgets and popups on macOS, Windows and Linux, with custom widgets needing some coding or borrowed configs rather than shell scripts.
Übersicht
Put script-driven widgets on the macOS desktop.
Übersicht places script-driven widgets built with web technologies on the macOS desktop rather than replacing the menu bar.
Similar software
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yabai
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AeroSpace
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JankyBorders
A lightweight macOS tool that draws colored borders around windows to highlight the focused one.
Hidden Bar
Hide less-used macOS menu-bar items behind a toggle.
skhd
Simple hotkey daemon for macOS commonly paired with the yabai tiling manager.
Polybar
Build a configurable status bar for an X11 desktop.
