Sidebar Calendar

Product Introduction

1. Sidebar Calendar is a macOS application designed to integrate Apple Calendar events into an always-visible sidebar and menu bar interface. It provides real-time access to schedules without requiring users to open separate calendar applications or disrupt their workflow.
2. The core value lies in its ability to minimize context-switching by displaying calendar events persistently at the screen’s edge, optimizing productivity for users who rely on time-sensitive task management. It enhances macOS’s native calendar experience through spatial efficiency and customizable visibility.

Main Features

1. The app displays calendar events in a collapsible sidebar that docks to either the left or right edge of the screen, alongside a condensed menu bar widget for quick glances. Users can toggle between hourly/daily views and adjust the sidebar width to balance visibility with screen real estate.
2. Customization options include filtering specific calendars (e.g., work, personal), displaying event durations/titles, and hiding all-day events. Users can assign hotkeys to show/hide the sidebar and choose between 12-hour or 24-hour time formats.
3. A productivity tracker automatically logs hours spent in calendar-marked "productive" events, with a one-click option to copy daily/weekly totals to the clipboard. The app syncs natively with Apple Calendar, ensuring real-time updates across all linked devices via iCloud.

Problems Solved

1. It eliminates the need to repeatedly open the full-screen Apple Calendar or third-party apps to check schedules, reducing interruptions during focused work sessions. This addresses workflow fragmentation caused by app-switching.
2. The target user group includes professionals, students, and remote workers who manage tightly packed schedules and require constant awareness of upcoming commitments without disrupting active tasks.
3. Typical use cases involve monitoring meeting times during multitasking, tracking time allocated to specific projects, and coordinating team events while using screen space efficiently on smaller Mac displays like MacBook Air.

Unique Advantages

1. Unlike traditional calendar apps that operate in separate windows, Sidebar Calendar embeds directly into the macOS desktop environment, providing uninterrupted visibility. Competitors like Fantastical or BusyCal lack this persistent edge-based interface.
2. The productivity hour tracker is a novel feature absent in most calendar tools, offering quantifiable insights into time management without requiring manual input or third-party integrations.
3. Competitive advantages include native macOS API integration for zero-latency Apple Calendar sync, a one-time purchase model (no subscriptions), and adherence to Apple’s privacy standards with no data collection or cloud processing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Does Sidebar Calendar collect user data? No user data is collected, stored, or transmitted by the app. All calendar data remains locally stored on the device and syncs exclusively through Apple’s encrypted iCloud infrastructure.
2. What macOS versions are supported? The app requires macOS 14.6 or later, leveraging native frameworks like EventKit and SwiftUI for seamless compatibility with newer Mac hardware and software updates.
3. Can I customize which calendars are displayed? Yes, users can selectively hide or show calendars synced to Apple Calendar via the app’s settings panel, with changes applied in real time across the sidebar and menu bar.
4. How does the productivity hour tracker work? The app calculates productive hours by summing the durations of all calendar events categorized as "productive." Users assign this label within Apple Calendar, and Sidebar Calendar aggregates the totals automatically.
5. Is Family Sharing supported? Yes, up to six family members can use the app via Family Sharing after the initial purchase, with each member’s calendar data kept separate based on their Apple ID permissions.