Droppy

Product Introduction

1. Definition: Droppy is a free, open-source macOS productivity suite that integrates five core utilities: a Notch Shelf file manager, Floating Basket drag-and-drop zone, Clipboard Manager with OCR, Media Player with notch controls, and customizable system HUDs. It operates as a native macOS background application, leveraging Apple's native frameworks like Core Graphics, Vision (for OCR), and AVFoundation (media controls).
2. Core Value Proposition: Droppy eliminates app-switching friction for MacBook users by unifying file management, clipboard history, media playback, and system controls into one lightweight, notch-optimized tool—prioritizing efficiency, hardware integration, and zero cost.

Main Features

1. Notch Shelf: Files dragged to the MacBook’s webcam notch area instantly hide into a collapsible shelf. Uses macOS native file APIs for non-blocking background operations, supporting batch actions (compress, convert) via right-click. Optimized for M-series chips with Metal acceleration.
2. Floating Basket: Activated by mouse jiggle (accelerometer-based gesture detection) during drags. Creates a transient drop zone anywhere on screen using Core Animation. Supports cross-app file transfers and batch operations without interrupting workflows.
3. Clipboard Manager: Stores history with interactive previews (URLs, images). Employs macOS Vision framework for OCR text extraction from images. Features keyboard navigation, regex search, and favorites pinned to iCloud sync.
4. Media Player: Embeds "Now Playing" controls (play/pause, seek slider) into the notch via AVKit. Displays album art fetched from Music.app APIs. Uses smooth Core Animation transitions synced to playback.
5. Custom HUDs: Replaces macOS system volume/brightness overlays with animated, translucent HUDs using Quartz Compositor. Adjusts opacity/position via preferences.
6. Smart Compression: Right-click "Compress" with auto/target-size modes. For videos, uses HEVC via VideoToolbox; images use Core Image filters. Size Guard 🛡️ prevents output inflation via algorithmic checks.
7. Move To...: Direct file transfers to NAS/local folders via SMB/APFS. Runs non-blocking I/O threads to avoid UI freeze.

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: Fragmented workflows from juggling separate utilities for file management, clipboard, and media controls.
2. Target Audience:
   • MacBook Pro/Air Users: Leverages notch hardware for file storage.
   • Power Users: Developers/designers needing OCR, cross-app file transfers.
   • Content Creators: Media controls during editing; image-to-text conversion.
3. Use Cases:
   • Drag research images to notch → OCR-extract text → paste into notes.
   • Jiggle mouse to summon Floating Basket → batch-compress files for email.
   • Control Spotify during full-screen coding via notch media player.

Unique Advantages

1. Differentiation: Unifies 5+ tools competitors sell separately (e.g., Paste for clipboard, Yoink for drag-drop). Free/open-source (MIT License) vs. paid alternatives like Alfred or CleanShot X.
2. Key Innovation: Hardware-integrated interactions (notch storage, mouse jiggle) reduce cognitive load. Native HUDs replace outdated macOS overlays with GPU-accelerated animations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is Droppy compatible with non-notch Macs?
   Droppy’s Notch Shelf requires a MacBook Pro/Air with a physical notch (2021+ models). Other features (Floating Basket, Clipboard) work on all macOS 12+ devices.
2. How does Droppy’s OCR handle privacy?
   OCR text extraction occurs locally via Apple’s Vision framework—no data leaves your device. Clipboard history is stored encrypted in macOS Sandbox.
3. Can Droppy replace my clipboard manager?
   Yes. It offers OCR, favorites syncing, and regex search—outperforming basic tools like Maccy with interactive previews and keyboard shortcuts.
4. Does Smart Compression reduce image quality?
   Target Size mode balances quality/size via adaptive quantization. Size Guard 🛡️ ensures output never exceeds original size.
5. How to install Droppy without Homebrew?
   Download the signed .dmg from GitHub releases—bypasses Gatekeeper warnings post-v4.5.4 update.