Liberchat MacOS Desktop

Main project on GitHub

Modern messaging application with exclusive native macOS features.

Key Features

Modern Interface

• Smart splash screen with server selection and theme
• Server history: Saves the last 3 servers used
• Adaptive theme: Dark/light mode with saved preferences
• Optimized interface: Reduced webview dependence with native improvements

Security & Performance

• Enhanced security: contextIsolation, secured preload
• Smart cache: Reduced network requests
• Native notifications: Complete system integration
• Automatic permissions: Mic/camera configured

Exclusive macOS Features

Native Interface

• Complete macOS menu with native Cmd+ shortcuts
• Hidden title bar with vibrancy effect
• Transparent window integrated with the system
• Automatic system theme (follows Dark/Light mode)

Productivity

• Menu bar icon: Quick access and context menu
• Touch Bar: Quick buttons (New message, Refresh, Settings)
• Native behavior: Close = hide, reactivate from Dock
• System shortcuts: Cmd+Q, Cmd+W, Cmd+M, Cmd+R, Cmd+,

System Integration

• Native macOS notifications with sound and badges
• Native scrollbars with macOS style
• System fonts (-apple-system) for perfect rendering
• Smooth animations optimized for macOS

Installation & Launch

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Launch in development mode
npm start

# Generate macOS app (.app folder)
npm run package-mac

# Generate DMG file (Mac installer)
npx appdmg dmg.json liberchat-macos.dmg

Generated Files

• liberchat-darwin-x64/liberchat.app (macOS Application)
• liberchat-macos.dmg (DMG Installer)

macOS Installation

Recommended Method (DMG)

1. Download liberchat-macos.dmg
2. Double-click to mount the disk image
3. Drag the Liberchat icon into the Applications folder
4. Launch from Launchpad or Applications

Alternative Method (.app)

• Copy liberchat-darwin-x64/liberchat.app to /Applications/

Configuration

First Launch

1. Server selection: Choose your Liberchat server
2. Theme: Click on 🌙/☀️ to toggle between light/dark
3. History: Recent servers will appear automatically

Advanced Features

• Menu bar: Click on the Liberchat icon in the menu bar
• Touch Bar: Use the quick buttons (MacBook Pro)
• Shortcuts: Cmd+, for preferences, Cmd+R to refresh

Usage

Quick Server Selection

• Click in URL field → Shows recent servers
• Selection → Automatically fills the field
• Auto-save of the last 3 servers

Themes

• Toggle button at the top right of the splash screen
• Auto-save of the choice
• System theme: Automatically follows macOS preferences

macOS Shortcuts

• Cmd+Q: Quit the application
• Cmd+W: Close window (hides app)
• Cmd+M: Minimize to Dock
• Cmd+R: Reload page
• Cmd+,: Open preferences
• Cmd+H: Hide application

Dependencies

Main

• Electron ^22.x
• electron-packager
• appdmg

macOS APIs Used

• Tray: Menu bar icon
• TouchBar: MacBook Pro support
• nativeTheme: System theme
• systemPreferences: System integration
• Menu: Native macOS menus

Development

Project Structure

liberchat-macos/
├── main.js              # Main Electron process
├── preload.js           # Secured preload script
├── index.html           # Splash screen with selector
├── assets/              # Icons and resources
│   └── icons/
│       ├── liberchat.icns
│       └── liberchat.png
├── package.json         # npm configuration
└── README-macos.md      # Documentation

Technical Features

• Isolated processes: Maximum security
• Secured IPC: Inter-process communication
• Local cache: localStorage for history
• Platform detection: macOS conditional features

Changelog

Version 2.0.0 - Native macOS Edition ✨

Major new features:

Native macOS Integration

• Complete macOS menu with Cmd+ shortcuts
• Menu bar icon with context menu
• Touch Bar support for MacBook Pro
• Vibrancy effect and transparent window
• Automatic system theme (Dark/Light mode)

Improved Interface

• Splash screen with theme selector (🌙/☀️)
• History of last 3 used servers
• Smart dropdown under the URL field
• Automatic save of preferences

Performance & UX

• Reduced webview dependence
• Smart cache for requests
• Native macOS notifications
• Native system fonts and scrollbars
• Native behavior (close = hide)

Technical Improvements

• Secured architecture with isolated processes
• Secured IPC between processes
• Local state management (localStorage)
• Conditional platform detection

License

MIT License - See the LICENSE file for details.

Contribution

Contributions are welcome! Feel free to:

• Report bugs
• Propose enhancements
• Add macOS features

---

Liberchat macOS Desktop v2.0.0
Native application with full system integration