In 2024, we’ve encountered a variety of remarkable resources for designers and developers.
The second installment in the series, “What’s New for Designers & Developers from 2024,” highlights some of the most impressive and practical applications for Mac and Windows, with a smaller selection for Linux users. These apps, whether newly introduced or updated, span development, design, productivity, and other categories.
As we look forward to the advancements 2025 will bring, let’s take a moment to reflect on the standout Mac and Windows applications of 2024. Enjoy the retrospective!
January
MergeQuest – Mac App
MergeQuest, a Mac app that simplifies the management of GitLab merge requests. Serving as a centralised hub for all your relevant merge requests, it provides real-time notifications. Bid farewell to information overload and enhance your productivity with MergeQuest.
Price: $9.99
Backup Status – Mac App
Backup Status introduces a Mac widget, providing a quick view of your Time Machine status directly from your desktop or Notification Center. Keep tabs on your backup effortlessly with this convenient feature.
Price: Free
GitBrain – Mac App
GitBrain streamlines your Git workflow, maximizing coding productivity. Through the power of AI, it intelligently comprehends your code changes and offers insightful suggestions for Git operations, making version control a more efficient and intuitive process.
Price: Free
February
HeyNote – Mac, Linux & Windows App
Heynote is a dedicated scratchpad for developers. It functions as a large persistent text buffer where you can write down anything you like. Works great for that Slack message you don’t want to accidentally send, a JSON response from an API you’re working with, notes from a meeting, your daily to-do list, etc.
The Heynote buffer is divided into blocks, and each block can have its own Language set (e.g. JavaScript, JSON, Markdown, etc.). This gives you syntax highlighting and lets you auto-format that JSON response.
Price: Free
Aspen – Mac App
Aspen is a macOS-native, free API testing application designed with a ZERO trust philosophy, eliminating the need for logins to execute API tests.
Tailored to fulfill the requirements of testing REST APIs, Aspen leverages AI to expedite integrations by automatically generating data models, Open API Specs, and integration code. This tool prioritizes simplicity and security, providing a seamless experience for developers conducting API tests and integrating systems.
Price: Free
March
RunScript GUI – Mac, Linux & Windows App
RunScript GUI offers an intuitive interface for script management and execution, supporting JavaScript, Python, PowerShell, and Bash. It includes automatic form generation, output visualization, and a history of executions, all designed for user convenience.
Price: $50.00
Sonar – Mac App
Sonar stands as a native Mac application providing a swift and lightweight alternative to managing tasks directly from the GitHub or GitLab web UI. Offering nearly all functionalities available in the GitHub or GitLab issues web UI, Sonar ensures faster and simpler task management.
Price: Free with In App purchases
April
Portrackr – Mac App
Effortlessly manage development ports with simplicity, close ports in a few clicks, so you can quickly return to coding.
Price: Single License $5.99 for 1 machine or Pack License $17.99 for 3 machines
Buoy – Mac App
Say hello to Buoy, the MacOS productivity app designed to help you achieve flow state effortlessly. Simply select your focus apps, set a timer, and dive in. Buoy monitors your currently open apps and gently reminds you whenever your focus wavers, keeping you on track and productive.
Price: Free
VisualBox – Mac App
Elevate your desktop experience with VisualBox, where personalization knows no bounds. We believe your desktop should be a reflection of your unique style, needs, and preferences. That’s why we’ve created a widget experience that transcends the ordinary, offering a wide array of customization options to make your desktop truly yours.
Price: VisualBox is available to you at a price you choose.
May
Switchbar – Mac App
Switchbar gives you the freedom to choose your preferred browser, browser profile, or email client whenever you click on a link, whether you’re using a Mac or PC.
Price: Free to $20.00 (one time payment)
WP Foundry – Linux, Mac & Windows App
WP Foundry is a desktop app designed for managing WordPress websites locally. Its current features include basic actions for plugins and themes, as well as core updates. Stay tuned for upcoming enhancements and a detailed roadmap!
Price: $5.00
June
TranslateComments – Mac App
TranslateComments is an intuitive, user-friendly macOS application designed for developers to quickly translate their source code comments from one language to another. Utilising the DeepL API, this application ensures code readability and comprehensibility for international teams by providing accurate, context-sensitive translations of comments in various programming languages.
Price: €3+ ($3.26+)
Done – Mac App
Done is a minimal menu bar app designed for tracking completed tasks. Unlike traditional to-do apps, Done prioritises what you’ve already achieved, enabling you to maintain a clear record of your accomplishments.
Price: Free
July
ScreenRedact – Mac App
ScreenRedact uses Apple’s on-device machine learning model to recognize and redact text in an image. Simply click on the text box to redact, and then save the image as a PNG file.
Price: Free
Droppable – Mac App
Droppable is a native macOS application for large file sharing (up to 2TB) with a messenger-style UI and imported contacts. It streamlines file transfers, making them quicker and more efficient than existing alternatives. Designed for creatives like photographers and videographers, it caters to those who regularly handle large file transfers.
Price: Free for the first 5 Transfers or $9.99 once for full access
August
Sparrow – Mac & Window App
Sparrow is your one-stop API management solution. Supercharge your API workflow with Sparrow—the ultimate ally for agile teams and individual developers. Test, organize, and share APIs with ease, revolutionizing your API game.
Price: Free
September
Trace – Mac App
Trace is a time-tracking app that helps you understand how you spend your time. It monitors your device activity and presents a color-coded, easy-to-digest timeline of your app usage.
Price: Free
Zen Browser – Linux, Mac & Windows App
Zen is a beautifully designed, privacy-focused, and packed with features. Enjoy a tranquil browsing experience without being tracked!
Price: Free
October
Pulse – Mac App
Pulse is the ultimate typing analytics tool, offering real-time tracking of WPM, CPM, and accuracy across all your apps. With Pulse, you can visualize your progress, enhance your productivity, and unlock the potential of your keystrokes.
Designed for macOS, Pulse provides essential insights into your typing performance, whether you’re a professional writer, coding enthusiast, or frequent keyboard user. Boost your efficiency and monitor your improvement with ease.
Price: Free (Offers In-App Purchases)
Syphon – Mac App
Syphon is an app and window switcher that offers significant advantages over the built-in Mac switcher. It features fuzzy searching, window switching with previews, launching of non-running apps, separation of hidden apps, and more!
Price: $9.99
November
Quill – Mac App
Quill automatically captures every copied text, allowing you to easily access and organize your text snippets whenever needed. With its simple, elegant, and intuitive design, Quill offers powerful features to ensure that no idea or crucial information slips through the cracks.
Price: $5.99
Conductor – Mac App
Conductor is a sleek desktop app for macOS that simplifies and speeds up the process of converting and transforming your media files. With its modern design and intuitive interface, Conductor makes handling media files effortless.
Price: $7.00 one time payment
December
Impulso – Mac App
A sleek, native macOS app for task management, featuring intelligent priority scoring and flexible organization tools. Built with SwiftUI, it offers exceptional performance and a clean, modern user experience.
Price: Free
Shortcards – Mac App
Shortcards is a free app offering a curated collection of essential Mac keyboard shortcut cheat sheets. Organized into clear topic cards, it helps you quickly learn and remember the most important shortcuts to boost your productivity and work more efficiently.
Price: Free
