v1.0 — macOS 14+

SideNook

A lightweight floating terminal panel for macOS. Lives at your screen edge — invisible until needed.

Download for macOS View on GitHub

Always there. Never in the way.

SideNook fills a gap macOS has always had: a terminal that's always there but never in the way. Traditional terminal apps live in the Dock, get buried under windows, and require Cmd+Tab gymnastics to reach. SideNook lives at your screen edge — a 9pt-wide pill that opens on hover, delivers a full terminal, and collapses back without disturbing your flow.

It works on all Spaces, fullscreen apps, and Mission Control. Never steals focus. Never clutters your Dock. Designed for Claude Code users, SSH sessions, and anyone who needs a terminal on demand without breaking context.

Get started in seconds

Clone the repo, build, and launch.

terminal 
git clone https://github.com/torrespoloc/SideNook.git
cd SideNook
make install
Download .app macOS 14+ required
Feature

Built-in notes

CL Notes is a persistent monospaced notepad built into the panel. Jot down commands, draft code snippets, or keep a running log — all without leaving your terminal.

  • Line-number gutter (up to 100 lines)
  • Three access modes: inline drawer, popover, or full tab
  • Auto-saved on every change
  • Full undo support and standard keyboard shortcuts
CL Notes — inline editor
Command reference
Feature

Command line help

A searchable command reference loaded from Metadata/command-lines.md. Click any command row to send it directly to the active terminal.

  • Inline drawer, popover, or full-tab mode
  • Real-time filter as you type
  • Resizable drawer (80–384pt range)
  • Click-to-send to active terminal