[feature request] Hide The Archive App Icon from Alt + Tab menu

profCalculus

Hi,

I love The Archive, and constantly have it running in the background so I can pull it up in a moments notice with the relevant keyboard shortcuts.

I also strive to set up my computer to remove cognitive load, and while I'm often jumping between apps with Alt + Tab, The Archive icon always sticks out in my mind. Using The Archive is such a core part of my workflow that I want it to fade entirely into the background (like Alfred, or Rectangle), as it's essentially a systems level function at this point.

Is it possible to add a preference setting to remove the icon from the Alt + Tab switcher?

With much gratitude for all that you do at zettelkasten.de

Prof C.

ctietze

There are ways -- but how would you want to access the app if not from there?

Removing apps from the application switcher means to also remove them from the Dock. You could still open the app with a global shortcut, I guess, but only exclusively so.

If you want more control over your Mac like this, you may enjoy researching app switcher replacements -- i.e. instead of using the built-in macOS ⌘-Tab switcher, have another app take over the duty and offer customization to hide things.

For example, Keyboard Maestro comes with a custom switcher, and there are other tools, but I've never tried any and cannot recommend one tool over another. I do like Martin Lexow's design work, though so I will leave a link to his tool: https://appahead.studio/apps/pieoneer/

profCalculus

Thanks for the reply Christian.

I am a big keyboard user and benefit heavily from regular global shortcut usage. I already use Karabiner elements & Keyboard Maestro so that hyper + z will open The Archive wherever I am, and hyper + n will author a new note wherever I am.

I really appreciate that you built these global shortcuts into The Archive — it really allows the app to fade into the background, and to have it at my fingertips whenever I need it.

Grateful for your suggestions — I could indeed go down the custom switcher route. I've dabbled with them in the past, but honestly I really like the simplicity & the stability of the native macOS switcher.

Ultimately I can obviously live with the app icon being visible, I just thought I'd mention it incase it was simple to add an option in preferences similar to an app like Rectangle for example (which is for rearranging app windows with keyboard shortcuts). In the screenshot I share below from Rectangle the option is for toggling visibility in the menu bar, but the principal is the same.

Anyway, I won't go on about it anymore, but maybe if others would find it valuable and it's not too difficult to implement it's something to consider in the future...

Many thanks!

ctietze

Cool!

Yeah there are escalation options like these: move from Dock to menu bar, then also hide the icon there, essentially 'backgrounding' the app. It's an interesting idea!