Tintpad for MAC
Free, open-source hotkey launcher that opens your terminal at the right repo with Claude Code, Codex or another coding agent already running.
Tintpad Overview
Tintpad is a free, open-source launcher for developers who work with command-line coding agents such as Claude Code and Codex. Press Option-Command-Space anywhere and a black drop falls out of your Mac's notch, or hangs below the menu bar on Macs without one, with your repositories inside. Type a few letters, press Return, and your own terminal opens at that repository with the agent already running, in the mode you used there last.
Two chips in the drop show exactly what Return will run: the agent and its mode. A mode that skips permissions turns red first and can ask before it fires. Tintpad works with Ghostty, iTerm2, kitty, WezTerm, Alacritty, Terminal and Warp, although Warp only gets the repository and the command is put on your clipboard. It is made by Erik Nielsen (Sörkila) under the MIT licence, runs locally with no account and no telemetry, and is signed and notarized by Apple. It needs macOS 14 or later. Tintpad does not include an agent: you need to install claude, codex or another agent command-line tool first. Version 0.4.4 fixes a launch problem in 0.4.3.
Key Features
Tintpad turns starting a coding agent into one shortcut and one key press.
- The drop: a launcher that falls out of the notch with your repositories inside.
- Your own terminal: opens Ghostty, iTerm2, kitty, WezTerm, Alacritty, Terminal or Warp.
- Clear chips: the agent and mode chips state exactly what Return runs.
- Safety warning: modes that skip permissions turn red and can ask first.
- Frecency: the repositories you use most rise to the top with their last agent and mode.
- Worktrees and dispatch: start an agent in a new git worktree or run one in the background.
- Any agent: Claude Code and Codex come set up, others need one command template.
- Private: local only, with no account and no telemetry.
What’s New in Version 0.4.4
Tintpad 0.4.4 fixes a problem at launch.
- Tintpad no longer spins at launch: version 0.4.3 used a full CPU core from the moment it opened and could neither quit nor update itself, so users of 0.4.3 need to force quit it and download 0.4.4 by hand
Tintpad FAQ
Is Tintpad free?
Yes. Tintpad is free and open source under the MIT licence, with no account and nothing to unlock.
What does Tintpad do?
It opens your terminal at the repository you pick with a coding agent such as Claude Code or Codex already running. You summon it with a hotkey, choose a repository and press Return.
Does Tintpad include Claude Code or Codex?
No. You bring the agent: install claude, codex or another agent command-line tool first, then Tintpad launches it.
Which macOS version does Tintpad need?
Tintpad needs macOS 14 or later.
Which terminals does Tintpad support?
Ghostty, iTerm2, kitty, WezTerm, Alacritty, Terminal and Warp. Warp has no command API, so Tintpad opens the repository there and puts the command on your clipboard.
Is Tintpad signed by Apple?
Yes. The download is signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple.
What do the red chips mean?
A mode that skips the agent's permission checks turns red before it runs, and Tintpad can ask for confirmation before it fires.
What can I do if Return does nothing?
This is usually a permissions problem. Tintpad shows a red line in the drop and Return on that line opens the right System Settings pane. If Accessibility is already on, remove Tintpad from the list, add it back and relaunch.
What is new in Tintpad 0.4.4?
It fixes a problem in 0.4.3 that used a full CPU core from launch and stopped the app from quitting or updating. Users of 0.4.3 need to force quit it and download 0.4.4 by hand.
Where does the Tintpad download on tintpad.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to the official Tintpad release page on GitHub at https://github.com/sorkila/tintpad/releases/latest. tintpad.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the app.
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