Ask HN: Suggestions for native Mac apps?

#1

Post by _justinfunk » Wed, Jul 11, 2018, 8:41 PM UTC

With an updated Mac App Store coming this fall, I started evaluating my own use of Mac software. Aside from a code editor and music player, practically everything else that I do on MacOS is in a browser (streaming video, documents, maps, email, etc).

Help me change this (should I change this?) - what apps should I be using natively?

I work full-time doing programming, consulting, and other general-purpose internet-y things.

Re: Ask HN: Suggestions for native Mac apps?

#2

Post by mtmail » Wed, Jul 11, 2018, 9:18 PM UTC

I quite enjoy native Markdown editors with instant preview. https://macdown.uranusjr.com/ or https://getlightpaper.com/

Re: Ask HN: Suggestions for native Mac apps?

#3

Post by ljsocal » Wed, Jul 11, 2018, 10:28 PM UTC

Notes app is a really usefully tool. It’s easy to use but has a lot of powerful features if you dig a little.

Re: Ask HN: Suggestions for native Mac apps?

#4

Post by ecesena » Wed, Jul 11, 2018, 11:14 PM UTC

In addition to editors and notes, I user mail, terminal, and IMs. IMs are really important to me -- basically for everything I care about being notified, I prefer an app rather that in-browser.

Re: Ask HN: Suggestions for native Mac apps?

#5

Post by jp_sc » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 1:11 AM UTC

mtmail wrote: post #2

I quite enjoy native Markdown editors with instant preview. https://macdown.uranusjr.com/ or https://getlightpaper.com/

In that space, my favorite is Typora (https://typora.io/)

Re: Ask HN: Suggestions for native Mac apps?

#6

Post by kiwicopple » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 1:14 AM UTC

It’s worth checking out https://setapp.com (no affiliation). They have some useful utilities.

Personally though, I like the interoperability of a browser-based workflow. I use multiple different computers - Mac, windows, and Linux - and the switch feels seamless because most of my life is spent in Firefox, chrome, and VSCode

Re: Ask HN: Suggestions for native Mac apps?

#7

Post by writepub » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 3:32 AM UTC

Please try http://write.pub

WYSIWYG markdown editor + git baked in, with rich WYSIWYG diff visualizations.

For power users, it has a raw markdown editing mode, plenty of extensions. Would love your feedback on 6+ months of blood, sweat & tears poured into this

Re: Ask HN: Suggestions for native Mac apps?

#8

Post by writepub » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 3:34 AM UTC

mtmail wrote: post #2

I quite enjoy native Markdown editors with instant preview. https://macdown.uranusjr.com/ or https://getlightpaper.com/

Please give http://write.pub a shot.

And a nod to Typora, we're inspired by them

Re: Ask HN: Suggestions for native Mac apps?

#9

Post by sgillen » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 4:55 AM UTC

I really like the mail client, since I have 5 different email addresses I use that would otherwise be difficult to coordinate by just forwarding everything to one gmail inbox.

Also I big fan of the messages app, if you use an iPhone it’s very convenient.

Re: Ask HN: Suggestions for native Mac apps?

#10

Post by jonhendry18 » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 6:12 AM UTC

OmniOutliner

OmniFocus

NetNewsWire

Photoshop

Corel Painter

Autodesk Fusion 360

Cura (3D printing slicer)

WWDC.app (WWDC videos app for macOS, from a 3rd party)

Skim.app (PDF reader)

Timing (time tracker)

Audio Hijack

Navicat for SQLite

WireShark