Bartender for Mac

For security reasons I now prefer ICE <https://github.com/jordanbaird/Ice>. And ICE is free!

⚠️ SECURITY WARNING! The owner of Bartender has silently changed in April 2024 without making this public or information to existing users. The new owners behave very secretive about this an given Bartender requires screen recording permission, you should be aware of this situation before installing or keep using this application. For details see https://www.macrumors.com/2024/06/04/bartender-mac-app-new-owner/

CONCLUSION (of my rant fest): I had a good email conversation with Surtees Studio's tech support. They apologize for the [extraordinary] process required for the upgrade. They are going to look into finding a streamlined automation process. There are a few elements involved. (1) The new version uses a new security certificate, requiring users to set up security settings all over again. (2) Changes in macOS Sonoma in particular have made look like the old settings remain, when they don't. That's Apple's fault. Apple also has failed to provide an automated method of working around that nonsense. Therefore, a forced RESET is typically required using the CLI (Character Line Interface). Shameful Apple. (3) Amidst this mess, Surtee's Studio put out a sloppy workaround process, and GUI, and added CLI reset instruction page. - - FUTURE: Expect the Dev to clean up the process. I would also hope Apple sorts out their own, sadly perennial macOS blundering. 🙄😤

v5.0.52 now attempts to contact Amplitude.com. They are a user metadata collection company. Data is collected, the referrer is paid, the data goes on the market to be sold or to be handed over to the government. DO NOT APPROVE of Bartender connecting to Amplitude.com, suggest I. - - Something has, to be subtle, CHANGED over at Surtees Studios. Typically in these situations, at the very least their management has changed. Selling user data and blundering coding is common when marketing assumes the roll of management, which is a phenomenon of aging companies. Sometimes the company is sold and the buyers pursue money rather than respect and quality. I could lecture all day about this stuff. JUST BE WARY of Bartender at this point in time, say I. (0_o)

NIGHTMARE = Finished version 5.0.52. DO NOT INSTALL, unless you enjoy bugs. This is NOT ready for prime time. It's actually a shameful update. HERE is a short version of the problems: (1) You install the update and have a non-removable floating window shoved at you. It tells you to do thing's you've already done for previous versions. But the stupid window won't go away. So you "Kick-The-Machine" by turning OFF the requested settings and you Quit then reboot Bartender. And the stupid window returns and won't go away. Meanwhile, Bartender is 100% inert in its purpose. So now what? There's a link on the offending window to: https://www.macbartender.com/Bartender5/PermissionIssues/ - - That page tells you to run a couple CLI (Character Line Interface) commands. UNACCEPTABLE EVER for average users. But you bother with it anyway and find the CLI tells you it can't find what you're looking for. Nonetheless, the RESET has worked. So you go back to the stupid window and follow along re-making the original settings. NOW, hopefully, they work and take hold. So you reboot macOS and find that Bartender isn't automatically loading! So you try to get into the Bartender settings by holding down Option as you click it's icon. Oops, wrong CLI comes up. Do exactly the same and NOW you get to settings and find that Bartender is turned OFF for booting when your computer starts. Turn it ON again. Then go have a stiff drink, of water at least. SHAMEFUL! But the nastiness is hopefully over. BLAME THE DEVS for this NIGHTMARE. And I don't get ticked off easily about software. SHAMEFUL.