jasonlong

jasonlong / octodot

Public

Fast, keyboard-centric macOS menubar app for GitHub notifications

github github-notifications macos menubar native
12
0
100% credibility
Found Apr 08, 2026 at 12 stars -- GitGems finds repos before they trend. Get early access to the next one.
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AI Analysis
Swift
AI Summary

Octodot is a native macOS menu bar app that lets users quickly triage GitHub notifications using keyboard shortcuts.

How It Works

1
🔍 Discover Octodot

You find a handy menu bar app that makes handling GitHub notifications quick and easy.

2
📥 Download and install

Grab the latest version from releases, unzip it, and drag the app to your Applications folder.

3
🚀 Launch from menu bar

Octodot appears in your Mac's menu bar, showing an unread count badge if you have any.

4
🔑 Connect your GitHub

Enter a secure access code once to link your account – it's saved safely in your Mac's keychain.

5
⌨️ Triage notifications

Click the icon or use a shortcut to open the panel, then zip through your list with j/k keys, o to open links, and d to mark done.

6
⚙️ Customize to your taste

Open settings to pick light/dark mode, tweak shortcuts, or set a global hotkey.

✅ Notifications mastered

You stay on top of GitHub alerts effortlessly from the menu bar, without ever needing a browser.

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Star Growth

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AI-Generated Review

What is octodot?

Octodot is a native Swift macOS menubar app that pulls your GitHub notifications into a fast, keyboard-centric panel for quick triage. Toggle between Inbox (unread plus recent reads) and Unread views, with repo grouping, search, and Vim-style keys like j/k to navigate, o to open in browser, d to mark done, and x to unsubscribe—complete with optimistic actions and undo. It handles Dependabot alerts separately, shows PR CI status, and runs background refreshes respecting GitHub's poll headers, all without a browser tab.

Why is it gaining traction?

It ditches Electron bloat for pure SwiftUI/AppKit speed, landing a unread badge on your menubar icon and a global hotkey (default Cmd-') to pop the panel instantly. Keyboard-first workflow crushes browser inbox slog, with features like force refresh (r), repo toggle (s), and background polling for fast GitHub notifications without constant manual checks. Native settings cover token auth, appearance, and shortcut remapping.

Who should use this?

Mac devs drowning in GitHub notifications from PR reviews, issues, and Dependabot alerts who hate tab-switching. Power users on high-volume repos wanting Vim-like triage speed, or anyone needing quick glances at unread counts and CI status without full GitHub loads.

Verdict

Try it if you're a macOS GitHub heavy—its keyboard focus delivers real workflow wins despite 12 stars and 1.0% credibility signaling early days. Solid tests and docs, but watch for polish as it matures; grab the zip from releases.

(178 words)

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