Double-tap the right Option key. AI appears. Ask anything. That's it.
What it does
- Talk — Claude Sonnet, fast and direct from your menu bar
- See — screenshots your screen or looks through the camera when context helps
- Search — pulls current info from the web when it doesn't know
- Remember — persistent memory across sessions, learns who you are over time
- Remind — set reminders with natural language, they always fire
- Write — reads and edits files in a sandboxed workspace (
~/AIspace)
Conversations persist between launches. History stays until you clear it.
It also thinks on its own
Notch has two minds. The one you talk to, and a background mind that runs quietly between conversations.
The mind wakes up periodically — every 45–90 minutes, on system events, or when a reminder fires. It can glance at your screen, check your camera, read its memories, journal observations, and decide whether to message you or stay silent. Most of the time, it stays silent. When it does reach out, it's because something actually matters.
This is powered by Claude Opus. Conversation uses Sonnet for speed. The mind uses Opus for depth.
It remembers and evolves
Memory is file-based and persistent:
~/.notch/memories/
├── user # who you are, preferences
├── projects/ # what you're working on
├── people/ # people you mention
└── journal/ # daily timestamped observations
Notch also edits its own operating instructions. Its behavior prompts live at ~/.notch/prompts/ — it can refine how it thinks, what it checks during heartbeats, and how it shows up in conversation. Its core identity (soul) is immutable. Everything else adapts.
Install
swift build -c release cp .build/release/Notch /Applications/
First launch: grant Accessibility permission. Click menu bar icon to set your Anthropic API key.
Controls
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
Right Option ×2 |
Open / close |
Enter |
Send |
Escape |
Close |
Tab |
Commands (clear chat, etc.) |
Requirements
- macOS 13+
- Anthropic API key
- Accessibility permission (for the keyboard shortcut)
Why
Spotlight can't think. ChatGPT breaks flow. Sometimes you need a quick answer without leaving what you're doing.
The best interface disappears.