Foldr for MacOS

Product Introduction

1. Definition: Foldr for MacOS is a lightweight Finder extension (System Extension category) that integrates directly with macOS's right-click context menu. It enables users to create new folders with custom icons or modify existing folder icons without leaving Finder.
2. Core Value Proposition: Foldr eliminates the visual monotony of macOS's default blue folders by providing instant customization through native Finder integration. Its core purpose is to enable effortless visual organization through personalized folder icons, enhancing both aesthetics and file management efficiency.

Main Features

1. Contextual Folder Creation: Right-click anywhere in Finder to access Foldr's menu. Select "New Folder with Icon" to instantly generate a folder pre-assigned with your chosen icon. Uses macOS's Finder Sync Extension API for seamless menu injection.
2. Dynamic Icon Modification: Alter any existing folder's icon via right-click > Foldr menu. The extension replaces the folder's resource fork icon data using Apple's File Manager APIs, ensuring compatibility with HFS+ and APFS file systems.
3. Built-in Library + Custom .icns Support: Includes six professionally designed color variants (red, yellow, green, blue, purple, orange) stored as .icns files in the app bundle. Supports importing custom .icns files through a native file picker, which are stored in ~/Library/Application Support/ for persistent access.
4. Native SwiftUI Integration: Built exclusively with Apple's SwiftUI framework, ensuring full compatibility with macOS sandboxing, Dark Mode, and accessibility features. Requires no background processes – all operations trigger on-demand through Finder's context menu.

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: Default folder icons lack visual distinction, causing inefficient navigation in cluttered directories and reducing personalization capabilities within macOS.
2. Target Audience: Creative professionals organizing project assets, developers managing code repositories, researchers categorizing datasets, students structuring coursework, and productivity-focused users seeking visual workflow optimization.
3. Use Cases: Color-coding client projects for instant recognition, differentiating work/personal folders, marking priority folders with red icons, creating visually distinct directories for media types (photos/videos/documents), and thematic organization for seasonal projects.

Unique Advantages

1. Differentiation: Unlike manual icon replacement (Get Info > copy/paste) or bulk utilities like LiteIcon, Foldr operates entirely within Finder's context menu with zero UI overhead. Competitors lack its one-click creation/modification workflow.
2. Key Innovation: Patent-pending Finder Sync Extension implementation enables real-time icon assignment during folder creation – a technical achievement over traditional post-creation methods. The architecture ensures no performance impact on Finder operations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How to install Foldr on macOS?
   After downloading, drag Foldr to Applications, then enable the extension in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Extensions > Finder Extensions. No terminal commands required.

2. Does Foldr work with custom .icns files?
   Yes, Foldr supports importing any valid .icns file via its menu. Custom icons are stored locally and remain available across system reboots.

3. Is Foldr compatible with macOS Sonoma?
   Foldr is fully compatible with macOS 12 Monterey through macOS 14 Sonoma, leveraging Apple's latest Finder Sync Extension APIs for stability.

4. Can I revert to default folder icons?
   Right-click any customized folder, select "Restore Default Icon" in Foldr's menu to instantly remove custom icons without file modification.

5. Does Foldr require administrator permissions?
   No, Foldr operates within macOS's user-level sandbox. Icon changes apply only to folders within your user directory, requiring no system-wide access.