Beacon 0.7.2

Beacon 0.7.2 - a fast, native macOS search launcher.

Install

1. Download Beacon-0.7.2.dmg below.
2. Open it and drag Beacon into your Applications folder.
3. Launch Beacon from Applications. It lives in the menu bar
   (magnifying-glass icon) - there's no Dock icon or main window.
4. Press Option + S anywhere to open the search bar. Press Esc to dismiss.

This build is signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple, so it opens
without security warnings.

Search your text messages (optional)

Beacon can search your iMessage & SMS history. macOS protects the Messages
database, so this needs Full Disk Access (a one-time, manual toggle that
Apple requires for any app reading Messages):

1. In Beacon, press Option + S and click the Messages filter.
2. Click Open Settings - this jumps straight to
   System Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Full Disk Access.
3. Find Beacon in the list and turn its switch on.
   (Beacon adds itself to this list automatically - no need for the "+" button.)
4. Choose Quit & Reopen when prompted.

Now select the Messages filter and search by word, phrase, or contact.
Return opens the conversation in Messages; Cmd + C copies the text.

The same Full Disk Access toggle also unlocks Notes and Safari
history. (Chrome, Brave, Edge, and Arc history work without it.)

File search needs no permissions and works the moment you launch Beacon.
Full Disk Access only unlocks Messages, Notes, Safari history, and a few
protected folders.

Highlights

• Unified "All" search - the All tab blends files & apps, messages, and
  notes into one grouped, ranked list. Chips included in All show a small dot;
  Clipboard and History are opt-in via their own chips.
• Clipboard history - everything you copy is captured locally and
  searchable under the Clipboard filter. Return copies it back, ready
  to paste. Private/transient copies (password managers) are skipped.
• Browser history - the History filter searches every page you've
  visited across Safari, Chrome, Brave, Edge, and Arc (all profiles).
  Return opens it; Cmd + C copies the link.
• Notes search - search across all your Apple Notes; Return opens the
  exact note.

What's new in 0.7.2

• Rock-solid search consistency. Reworked the search engine so results
  always belong to the filter you're on. Fixed a race where a slow search
  (e.g. Messages) could land on the wrong tab (e.g. Notes), items went missing,
  or the list looked stale.
• Switching filters starts fresh. Changing the filter now clears the list
  instantly and re-runs cleanly - no leftover rows from the previous filter.
• Smoother feedback while typing or switching: a brief spinner instead of a
  flash of "No results."

Upgrading from an earlier version? Just replace the app in Applications -
your Full Disk Access setting carries over. Clipboard history starts recording
as soon as you launch this build.