Flakes · Your next browser

Product Introduction

1. Definition: Flakes is a native macOS browser built using SwiftUI and WebKit, categorized as an AI-native, keyboard-first browser. It prioritizes efficiency for macOS productivity users.
2. Core Value Proposition: Flakes exists to eliminate browsing friction for thinkers. Its keyboard-first design, optional AI integration (Drift AI), and native macOS performance enable distraction-free focus, replacing traditional scrolling with streamlined navigation.

Main Features

1. Command Palette (⌘K): A central hub for browser control. Pressing ⌘K activates search for history, commands, URLs, or AI queries. This replaces menu navigation and memorizing shortcuts, using SwiftUI for instant responsiveness.
2. Keyboard Navigation: Implements Vim-style navigation (h/j/k/l) for scrolling and movement. Press f to generate link hints for keyboard-based link selection. Manages tabs, windows, and scrolling entirely without a mouse.
3. Drift AI (Contextual AI): AI that understands open tabs in real-time. Provides direct answers using content from all active pages, offers real-time translation, and enables deep content discussions. Processes data locally where possible; AI is opt-in for privacy.
4. Focus Mode (⌘Enter): Hides all UI elements (toolbar, address bar) except content. Integrates built-in ad blocking to remove visual clutter, creating a truly distraction-free reading environment.
5. Privacy Architecture: Ad blocking enabled by default. AI features are optional and designed with privacy safeguards. Private Mode ensures zero local history storage and memory isolation. Built natively to minimize data exposure.

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: Tab overload and context switching disrupt deep work. Flakes solves this with Drift AI, which synthesizes information across tabs, eliminating manual searching.
2. Target Audience: Mac power users (developers, researchers, writers), UX/product designers, and keyboard-centric professionals (Vim/CLI users) who prioritize efficiency and minimalism.
3. Use Cases:
   • Researching across 10+ tabs: Ask Drift AI a question for instant synthesized answers.
   • Writing/editing: Activate Focus Mode (⌘Enter) to hide all distractions.
   • Multitasking: Use ⌘K to switch tasks or windows without touching the mouse.

Unique Advantages

1. Differentiation: Unlike Chrome/Safari (mouse-dependent) or Vivaldi (complex), Flakes offers SwiftUI-native performance with zero-lag cold starts and minimal memory footprint. Versus Arc, Flakes provides deeper keyboard integration and optional, privacy-centric AI.
2. Key Innovation: Drift AI’s contextual tab understanding – a technical leap where AI processes active browser context locally. Combined with system-level SwiftUI optimization, this delivers a uniquely fluid macOS-native experience absent in Electron-based competitors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is Flakes browser free to download?
   Yes, Flakes offers a free download for macOS 14+ on both Apple Silicon and Intel processors.
2. How does Flakes handle privacy with its AI features?
   Drift AI is entirely optional and designed with privacy safeguards. Ad blocking is default, and Private Mode ensures zero local history storage. AI processes data locally when possible.
3. What macOS versions support Flakes browser?
   Flakes requires macOS 14 or later and runs natively on Apple Silicon (M-series) and Intel-based Macs.
4. Can I use Flakes without the AI functionality?
   Absolutely. Flakes is fully functional without Drift AI. Its keyboard-first navigation (Vim bindings, ⌘K palette) and Focus Mode work independently of AI.
5. How does Flakes improve browsing performance?
   Built with SwiftUI and WebKit, Flakes ensures native macOS speed, instant cold starts, smooth scrolling, and a minimal memory footprint compared to Chromium-based browsers.