feat(settings): add app presence modes

AGENTS.md

@@ -6,12 +6,13 @@ here instead of restating it.
 
 ## What this repository is
 
-OpenWritr is a macOS menu bar app (`LSUIElement`) for push-to-talk voice-to-text,
-built with Swift Package Manager for macOS 14+ on Apple Silicon. End users install
-the signed, notarized DMG/ZIP from GitHub Releases and receive updates in place
-through the app itself, so a bad release reaches every installed copy within about
-a day. Changes to `UpdateManager`, the broker profile/publication handoff, or signing can strand
-users on an old version.
+OpenWritr is a macOS push-to-talk voice-to-text app, built with Swift Package
+Manager for macOS 14+ on Apple Silicon. It launches as an `LSUIElement` menu bar
+utility, and a persisted Presence setting can switch it at runtime to Dock only
+or Dock plus menu bar. End users install the signed, notarized DMG/ZIP from GitHub
+Releases and receive updates in place through the app itself, so a bad release
+reaches every installed copy within about a day. Changes to `UpdateManager`, the
+broker profile/publication handoff, or signing can strand users on an old version.
 
 ## What this repository is not
 
@@ -59,6 +60,12 @@ Concurrency model: `AppViewModel` is `@MainActor`. `AudioEngine` is `@unchecked
 
 Preferences live in `UserDefaults` (no separate plist). Custom cleanup prompts use a versioned per-provider/model store so bundled tuned defaults can change without overwriting user text.
 
+`AppPresence` is owned by `AppViewModel`. In the running app,
+`SystemApplicationPresenceController` is the only type that changes
+`NSApplication.ActivationPolicy`; failed changes leave the previous reachable
+mode active. `UISnapshotRenderer` separately uses `.prohibited` for its
+headless command-line rendering mode.
+
 `scripts/build-app.sh` is a local diagnostic build. It signs with a Developer ID Application or Apple Development certificate found in the local keychain (or named in `OPENWRITR_SIGNING_IDENTITY`) and exits with an error if there is none; it creates no certificate. Ad-hoc signatures are refused, because macOS would reset the app's permissions. Distributable builds do not use this script or any OpenWritr workflow: they are assembled, signed, notarized, and packaged by `trsdn/macos-notarization-broker` profile `openwritr`.
 
 ## Enhanced Mode

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ broker publication handoff fails when the section for a tag is missing or empty.
 
 ## [1.6.6] — 2026-09-22
 
+### Added
+- A Presence setting for choosing menu bar only, Dock only, or both, with changes applied immediately and restored at launch
+
 ### Fixed
 - Auto-paste cancellation now shows a recoverable error instead of success when OpenWritr cannot preserve the existing clipboard
 

Info.plist

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
     <key>NSHumanReadableCopyright</key>
     <string>Copyright © 2026 Torsten Mahr. Released under the MIT License.</string>
     <key>OpenWritrDescription</key>
-    <string>Native macOS menu bar app for push-to-talk voice-to-text. Transcription runs locally on the Apple Neural Engine; optional cleanup via Apple Intelligence, GitHub Copilot, or an OpenAI-compatible API.</string>
+    <string>Native macOS push-to-talk voice-to-text app with configurable menu bar and Dock presence. Transcription runs locally on the Apple Neural Engine; optional cleanup via Apple Intelligence, GitHub Copilot, or an OpenAI-compatible API.</string>
     <key>OpenWritrLicense</key>
     <string>MIT</string>
     <key>OpenWritrRepositoryURL</key>

README.md

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 [![Release](https://img.shields.io/github/v/release/trsdn/OpenWritr)](https://github.com/trsdn/OpenWritr/releases/latest)
 [![Conformance](.github/badges/conformance.svg)](.github/conformance.yml)
 
-**Status: actively maintained.** Native macOS menu bar app for push-to-talk voice-to-text. Core transcription runs locally on the Apple Neural Engine; optional enhancement can use Apple Intelligence, GitHub Copilot, or any OpenAI-compatible API.
+**Status: actively maintained.** Native macOS push-to-talk voice-to-text app. Core transcription runs locally on the Apple Neural Engine; optional enhancement can use Apple Intelligence, GitHub Copilot, or any OpenAI-compatible API.
 
 **[Website](https://trsdn.github.io/OpenWritr/)** · **[Download](https://github.com/trsdn/OpenWritr/releases/latest)** · **[Changelog](CHANGELOG.md)**
 
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 
 The bottom-center recording indicator uses a live, voice-reactive waveform. Listening, transcription, enhancement, completion, and error states share the same compact borderless design.
 
+OpenWritr starts as a menu bar utility. In **Settings → App → Show OpenWritr In**, you can instead show it only in the Dock or in both the Dock and menu bar. Dock modes also make OpenWritr available in Command-Tab; use the OpenWritr app menu or `Command-,` to reopen Settings.
+
 ## Performance
 
 | Metric | Value |
@@ -147,7 +149,7 @@ OpenWritr checks `trsdn/OpenWritr` GitHub Releases for newer, Developer ID-signe
 
 ## Accessibility
 
-OpenWritr is a menu bar utility driven by a held hotkey (Fn/Globe or Right Shift). Settings and the menu use standard SwiftUI controls, which expose names and roles to VoiceOver; the recording overlay carries an accessibility label describing its state. Text uses system fonts and colours.
+OpenWritr is driven by a held hotkey (Fn/Globe or Right Shift) and can appear in the menu bar, Dock, or both. Settings and the menu use standard SwiftUI controls, which expose names and roles to VoiceOver; the recording overlay carries an accessibility label describing its state. Text uses system fonts and colours.
 
 Known limitations, stated rather than left to be discovered:
 
@@ -217,7 +219,7 @@ Generated daily by [`stats.yml`](.github/workflows/stats.yml) and committed to t
 
 ```
 Sources/OpenWritr/
-├── OpenWritrApp.swift          # App entry, MenuBarExtra, state machine
+├── OpenWritrApp.swift          # App entry, presence modes, state machine
 ├── MenuBarView.swift           # Menu bar dropdown UI
 ├── SettingsView.swift          # Dedicated settings window
 ├── AudioEngine.swift           # AVAudioEngine, 16kHz capture, realtime-safe

Sources/OpenWritr/OpenWritrApp.swift

@@ -39,6 +39,51 @@ enum AppState: Sendable {
     }
 }
 
+enum AppPresence: String, CaseIterable, Identifiable, Sendable {
+    case menuBarOnly
+    case dockOnly
+    case dockAndMenuBar
+
+    var id: String { rawValue }
+
+    var label: String {
+        switch self {
+        case .menuBarOnly: return "Menu Bar Only"
+        case .dockOnly: return "Dock Only"
+        case .dockAndMenuBar: return "Dock and Menu Bar"
+        }
+    }
+
+    var showsMenuBar: Bool {
+        self != .dockOnly
+    }
+
+    var showsDock: Bool {
+        self != .menuBarOnly
+    }
+
+    static func restored(from rawValue: String?) -> AppPresence {
+        rawValue.flatMap(AppPresence.init(rawValue:)) ?? .menuBarOnly
+    }
+}
+
+@MainActor
+protocol ApplicationPresenceControlling {
+    func apply(_ presence: AppPresence, activate: Bool) -> Bool
+}
+
+@MainActor
+final class SystemApplicationPresenceController: ApplicationPresenceControlling {
+    func apply(_ presence: AppPresence, activate: Bool) -> Bool {
+        let policy: NSApplication.ActivationPolicy = presence.showsDock ? .regular : .accessory
+        guard NSApplication.shared.setActivationPolicy(policy) else { return false }
+        if activate, presence.showsDock {
+            NSApplication.shared.activate(ignoringOtherApps: true)
+        }
+        return true
+    }
+}
+
 @MainActor
 @Observable
 final class AppViewModel {
@@ -66,6 +111,7 @@ final class AppViewModel {
     var soundEnabled: Bool = true
     var autoPasteEnabled: Bool = true
     var launchAtLogin: Bool = false
+    var appPresence: AppPresence
     var hotkeyChoice: HotkeyChoice = .fn
     var availableInputDevices: [AudioInputDevice] = []
     var selectedInputDeviceID: AudioDeviceID?
@@ -98,6 +144,8 @@ final class AppViewModel {
     private let doneDisplayDuration: Duration
     private let transientErrorDisplayDuration: Duration
     private let errorLogger: any ErrorLogging
+    private let applicationPresenceController: any ApplicationPresenceControlling
+    private let appPresenceDefaults: UserDefaults
     private var didConfigure = false
     private var didAttemptInitialSetup = false
     private var isInitializing = false
@@ -129,8 +177,14 @@ final class AppViewModel {
         errorLogger: any ErrorLogging = UnifiedErrorLogger(category: "AppViewModel"),
         startsOperational: Bool = false,
         doneDisplayDuration: Duration = AppViewModel.defaultDoneDisplayDuration,
-        transientErrorDisplayDuration: Duration = AppViewModel.defaultTransientErrorDisplayDuration
+        transientErrorDisplayDuration: Duration = AppViewModel.defaultTransientErrorDisplayDuration,
+        applicationPresenceController: any ApplicationPresenceControlling =
+            SystemApplicationPresenceController(),
+        appPresenceDefaults: UserDefaults = .standard
     ) {
+        appPresence = AppPresence.restored(
+            from: appPresenceDefaults.string(forKey: "appPresence")
+        )
         injectedAudioEngine = audioEngine
         self.transcriptionManager = transcriptionManager
         self.grammarEnhancer = grammarEnhancer
@@ -139,6 +193,8 @@ final class AppViewModel {
         self.errorLogger = errorLogger
         self.doneDisplayDuration = doneDisplayDuration
         self.transientErrorDisplayDuration = transientErrorDisplayDuration
+        self.applicationPresenceController = applicationPresenceController
+        self.appPresenceDefaults = appPresenceDefaults
         if startsOperational {
             configureAudioCallbacks()
             isOperational = true
@@ -332,6 +388,7 @@ final class AppViewModel {
         didConfigure = true
 
         restorePreferences()
+        applyRestoredAppPresence()
         refreshAppleIntelligenceAvailability()
 
         updateManager.onWillInstall = { [weak self] in
@@ -391,6 +448,9 @@ final class AppViewModel {
 
     private func restorePreferences() {
         let defaults = UserDefaults.standard
+        appPresence = AppPresence.restored(
+            from: appPresenceDefaults.string(forKey: "appPresence")
+        )
         if defaults.object(forKey: "soundEnabled") != nil {
             soundEnabled = defaults.bool(forKey: "soundEnabled")
         }
@@ -665,6 +725,26 @@ final class AppViewModel {
         UserDefaults.standard.set(value, forKey: key)
     }
 
+    func setAppPresence(_ presence: AppPresence) {
+        guard presence != appPresence else { return }
+        guard applicationPresenceController.apply(presence, activate: true) else {
+            errorLogger.logError("Failed to apply app presence mode \(presence.rawValue)")
+            return
+        }
+        appPresence = presence
+        appPresenceDefaults.set(presence.rawValue, forKey: "appPresence")
+    }
+
+    func applyRestoredAppPresence() {
+        guard applicationPresenceController.apply(appPresence, activate: false) else {
+            errorLogger.logError("Failed to restore app presence mode \(appPresence.rawValue)")
+            appPresence = .menuBarOnly
+            appPresenceDefaults.set(AppPresence.menuBarOnly.rawValue, forKey: "appPresence")
+            _ = applicationPresenceController.apply(.menuBarOnly, activate: false)
+            return
+        }
+    }
+
     func setEnhancedProvider(_ provider: EnhancedProvider) {
         if provider == .appleIntelligence {
             refreshAppleIntelligenceAvailability()
@@ -1735,14 +1815,21 @@ final class AppViewModel {
 }
 
 struct OpenWritrApp: App {
-    @State private var viewModel = AppViewModel()
+    @State private var viewModel: AppViewModel
+
+    init() {
+        let viewModel = AppViewModel()
+        _viewModel = State(initialValue: viewModel)
+        Task { @MainActor in
+            await viewModel.setup()
+        }
+    }
 
     var body: some Scene {
-        MenuBarExtra {
+        MenuBarExtra(isInserted: menuBarInsertion) {
             MenuBarView(viewModel: viewModel)
         } label: {
             menuBarIcon
-                .task { await viewModel.setup() }
         }
 
         Settings {
@@ -1755,6 +1842,22 @@ struct OpenWritrApp: App {
         .windowResizability(.contentSize)
     }
 
+    private var menuBarInsertion: Binding<Bool> {
+        Binding(
+            get: { viewModel.appPresence.showsMenuBar },
+            set: { isInserted in
+                guard isInserted != viewModel.appPresence.showsMenuBar else { return }
+                if isInserted {
+                    viewModel.setAppPresence(
+                        viewModel.appPresence.showsDock ? .dockAndMenuBar : .menuBarOnly
+                    )
+                } else if viewModel.appPresence.showsDock {
+                    viewModel.setAppPresence(.dockOnly)
+                }
+            }
+        )
+    }
+
     private var menuBarIcon: some View {
         Group {
             switch viewModel.state {

Sources/OpenWritr/SettingsView.swift

@@ -16,8 +16,9 @@ struct SettingsSnapshotConfiguration {
 
 /// Keeps the hosting window above other windows, including the floating
 /// recording overlay, and brings it to the front whenever it is shown.
-/// An `LSUIElement` app is never active on its own, so it also activates the app
-/// here rather than in a tap gesture, which keyboard activation would skip.
+/// In menu-bar-only mode the app is not active on its own, so this also
+/// activates it here rather than in a tap gesture, which keyboard activation
+/// would skip.
 private struct KeepWindowOnTop: NSViewRepresentable {
     func makeNSView(context: Context) -> NSView {
         let view = NSView()
@@ -288,6 +289,24 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
             }
 
             Section("App") {
+                Picker("Show OpenWritr In", selection: Binding(
+                    get: { viewModel.appPresence },
+                    set: { viewModel.setAppPresence($0) }
+                )) {
+                    ForEach(AppPresence.allCases) { presence in
+                        Text(presence.label).tag(presence)
+                    }
+                }
+
+                Text(
+                    viewModel.appPresence.showsDock
+                        ? "Dock modes also show OpenWritr in Command-Tab. Use the OpenWritr app menu or Command-Comma to reopen Settings."
+                        : "OpenWritr stays in the menu bar without appearing in the Dock or Command-Tab."
+                )
+                .font(.caption)
+                .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
+                .fixedSize(horizontal: false, vertical: true)
+
                 Toggle("Launch at Login", isOn: Binding(
                     get: { viewModel.launchAtLogin },
                     set: { _ in viewModel.toggleLaunchAtLogin() }

Sources/OpenWritr/UISnapshotRenderer.swift

@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@ enum UISnapshotRenderer {
         viewModel.enhancedModel = .luna
         viewModel.appleIntelligenceAvailability = .available
         viewModel.launchAtLogin = false
+        viewModel.appPresence = .menuBarOnly
         viewModel.debugModeEnabled = false
         return viewModel
     }