MinimalAIChat

A native macOS application providing instant, privacy-focused access to AI chat through a minimal interface with global hotkey activation.

Features

• Global Hotkey Access: Summon the app from anywhere with a keyboard shortcut
• Minimal Memory Footprint: Only 45MB vs 200MB+ for web alternatives
• Privacy-Focused: Minimal data collection, local processing where possible
• Native macOS Integration: Spotlight search, Universal Links, and more
• Optimized Performance: Fast, responsive UI built with Swift and SwiftUI

Current Status (v1.0)

In the initial version, MinimalAIChat focuses on:

• Wrapping web interfaces for top AI services
• Providing a unified chat experience
• Supporting platforms like ChatGPT, Claude AI, and DeepSeek

Future Plans (v2.0)

In version 2.0 (planned for Q3-Q4 2024), we will implement direct API integration with:

• Native API support for all major AI platforms
• Seamless switching between web and API-based interactions
• Advanced configuration and management of AI service connections
• Secure API key storage in macOS Keychain

For more details, see the API Key Implementation Roadmap.

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• macOS 12.0+ (Monterey or later)
• Xcode 14.0+
• Swift 5.7+

Setup Guide

1. Clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/your-username/MinimalAIChat.git
   cd MinimalAIChat

2. Initialize Git repository (if not already cloned)

   git init
   git add .
   git commit -m "Initial commit"

3. Set up project structure

   mkdir -p App/{Core,Modules,UI,Utilities}
   mkdir -p App/Modules/{Hotkey,WebView,Subscription,Security,Navigation,Discovery}
   mkdir -p App/UI/{Views,Localization,Accessibility}
   mkdir -p Resources/{Assets.xcassets,Entitlements}
   mkdir -p Tests/{Unit,UI,Performance}
   mkdir -p docs

4. Create Xcode project

   # Open Xcode and create a new macOS app project
   # Choose SwiftUI App template
   # Name it MinimalAIChat
   # Save it in the repository folder

5. Configure project

   • Set minimum deployment target to macOS 12.0
   • Enable App Sandbox with network access
   • Add necessary entitlements for hotkey monitoring
   • Set up Info.plist with proper App Transport Security settings

6. Install dependencies (if using Swift Package Manager)

   • Open the project in Xcode
   • File > Swift Packages > Add Package Dependency
   • Add essential packages (if needed)

7. Configure the project for development

   # Copy example configuration files
   cp Config/APIConfig.example.swift Config/APIConfig.swift
   # Edit APIConfig.swift with your development settings

Documentation

Comprehensive documentation is available in the docs/ folder:

• Product Requirements
• Technical Specification
• Project Structure
• Project Overview
• Implementation Guide
• Core Component Implementation
• Performance Optimization
• Testing Plan
• Accessibility Testing
• Security & Compliance
• SEO & App Store Optimization
• Deployment Guide
• Glossary
• Contributing Guide

Contributing

Please read our Contributing Guide for details on our code of conduct and the process for submitting pull requests.

License

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

Acknowledgments

• OpenAI for ChatGPT
• Anthropic for Claude
• DeepSeek for DeepSeek AI