macOS menu bar utility · beta 8

Branch Buddy

Repos in reach.

Branch Buddy sits in the macOS menu bar, watches the repositories you care about, and opens the current repo or worktree in any app you configure. It keeps branch status, dirty files, ahead/behind counts, and PR shortcuts close without another terminal detour.

BranchBuddy-1.0.0-beta.8.zip · Supports macOS 13 Ventura and newer.

View features

Made for repo-heavy workdays.

Small surface area, direct actions, and status where you already look: the macOS menu bar.

Track many repos

Watch active branches, uncommitted file counts, and ahead/behind state across every saved repository.

Refreshes automatically

Background refreshes and on-disk file events keep the menu current without manual terminal checks.

Open with intent

Launch each repository or worktree in any configured application. Xcode gets workspace/project detection; every other app opens exactly where you point it.

Worktrees and PRs

Jump into detected worktrees and use GitHub CLI shortcuts to open or create pull requests.

Latest beta notes.

Beta 8 focuses on making the app easier to find, set up, and keep running.

  • New menu bar icon plus the refreshed Branch Buddy app icon used across the site.
  • Brand-new onboarding flow for finding the menu bar item, adding repositories, choosing launch apps, and customizing the experience.
  • Welcome flow can be relaunched anytime from Preferences > General > Show Welcome Screen.
  • Configurable launch apps, refresh cadence, manual refresh, Sparkle updates, launch-at-login support, and GitHub CLI PR actions.

Built in the menu bar.

A small macOS menu for repo status, worktrees, launch targets, and PR actions.