LightSelect

A tiny macOS menu bar utility inspired by Cherry Studio's selection toolbar.

Select text in another app and LightSelect shows a small floating toolbar near the mouse:

• Translate: opens a local reading panel and asks your configured OpenAI-compatible API.
• Explain: opens the same local reading panel with an explanation prompt.
• Summary: opens the same local reading panel with a summary prompt.
• Search: opens Google search.
• Copy: copies the selected text.
• Quote: copies the selected text as Markdown quote text.

The reading panel is a floating window with Translate / Explain / Summary switching, copy, regenerate, and API settings shortcuts.

Run

swift run

On first launch, grant Accessibility permission in System Settings, then restart LightSelect.

Build a Release Binary

swift build -c release

The binary will be at:

.build/release/LightSelect

Build an App Bundle

chmod +x scripts/build-app.sh
scripts/build-app.sh
open build/LightSelect.app

If macOS asks for permission, grant Accessibility access to LightSelect.app, then quit and reopen it.

To keep it around as a normal local app:

mkdir -p ~/Applications
cp -R build/LightSelect.app ~/Applications/
open ~/Applications/LightSelect.app

For later updates, prefer:

chmod +x scripts/install-update.sh
scripts/install-update.sh

Grant Accessibility permission to this fixed app path:

~/Applications/LightSelect.app

LightSelect is signed with the local identity LightSelect Stable Code Signing when available. That keeps the bundle identity stable across updates, so Accessibility permission should not need to be granted again after every code change. If the app was previously authorized while ad-hoc signed, remove the old LightSelect entry and authorize this stable-signed app once.

If selecting text in a browser does not show the toolbar, click the page once, select the text again, and check that LightSelect.app is enabled in Accessibility. LightSelect first tries the app's Accessibility selected-text API, then falls back to a temporary Cmd+C read and restores the previous clipboard.

API Settings

Use the menu bar item LS -> API Settings....

LightSelect calls an OpenAI-compatible endpoint:

POST {Base URL}/chat/completions
Authorization: Bearer {API Key}

API settings are stored locally in macOS UserDefaults. Do not commit real API keys; this repository does not include any user key.

Cherry Studio Attribution

LightSelect was built with reference to Cherry Studio's selection assistant, including its selection-toolbar interaction and visual direction.

Cherry Studio: https://github.com/CherryHQ/cherry-studio

This project is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or maintained by Cherry Studio or CherryHQ. See NOTICE for attribution details.

License

AGPL-3.0. See LICENSE.