Pouf

A native macOS menu bar app that brings AI text enhancement to any application. Select text and press a hotkey to rewrite it in-place using local or cloud AI.

About

Pouf is a lightweight, open-source macOS utility that functions as a system-wide AI writing layer. Unlike other tools that require you to copy-paste text into a separate window, Pouf works in-place within your existing workflow—whether you are in Slack, Xcode, Notes, or Chrome.

Built with SwiftUI and the Accessibility API, it runs silently in the background. Simply use a global hotkey, and Pouf will capture your selected text, send it to your configured AI provider, and replace your draft with a polished version instantly.

Key Features

• Universal Compatibility: Works in any text field on macOS
• Privacy First: Zero data leaves your machine when using Ollama (local AI)
• Multiple AI Providers: Choose between Ollama (local), Gemini, or Grok
• Native Performance: Built in Swift 6 with no Electron bloat
• Invisible Interface: No floating windows or distractions—just select and go
• Customizable Shortcuts: Configure your preferred keyboard shortcut
• Secure Storage: API keys stored in macOS Keychain

Installation

Download

1. Download the latest .dmg file from the Releases page
2. Open the DMG and drag Pouf.app to your Applications folder

Important: Opening an Unsigned App

Since Pouf is not notarized with Apple, macOS Gatekeeper will block it by default. Here's how to open it safely:

Warning: Do NOT double-click the app to open it the first time. macOS will show a scary message saying "Pouf cannot be opened because it is from an unidentified developer" or "Pouf is damaged and can't be opened" with only an option to move it to Trash.

The Override Trick:

1. Right-click (or Control-click) on Pouf.app in your Applications folder
2. Select "Open" from the context menu
3. A dialog will appear with a warning, but this time there will be an "Open" button
4. Click "Open" to launch Pouf

After doing this once, you can open Pouf normally by double-clicking.

First Launch

1. Pouf will appear in your menu bar (look for the Pouf icon)
2. Grant Accessibility permissions when prompted (required for text selection)
3. Configure your preferred AI provider in Settings

For detailed setup instructions, see the User Guide.

Quick Start

1. Configure your AI provider in Settings > AI Provider

   • Ollama (local, free): No API key required
   • Gemini or Grok (cloud): Enter your API key

2. Select any text in any application

3. Press your hotkey (default: ⌘⌥/)

4. Watch your text transform into polished, professional writing

Screenshots

Menu Bar	General Settings	AI Provider	Prompt

Requirements

• macOS 14.0 or later
• For local AI: Ollama installed and running
• For cloud AI: API key from Google AI Studio (Gemini) or x.ai (Grok)

Building from Source

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/rickywo/Pouf.git
cd Pouf

# Open in Xcode
open Pouf.xcodeproj

# Build and run (⌘R)

Documentation

• User Guide - Complete usage instructions
• Documentation - Documentation structure

Privacy

• Ollama: All processing happens locally. Your text never leaves your machine.
• Gemini/Grok: Text is sent to cloud APIs for processing. Review their privacy policies.
• API keys are stored securely in the macOS Keychain.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

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