Drafts v0.9.1 — local AI topics and improved notepad

Drafts v0.9.1 — public preview

A minimal, translucent scratchpad for macOS 14+. Apple Silicon and Intel are included; optional local AI requires Apple Silicon.

New since v0.7.0

• Optional on-device AI topics: download and select an MLX model in Settings. No server, API key, or bundled model weights. Downloads are explicit and checksum-verified.
• Topic organisation: automatic analysis after successful saves, cancellable organisation of existing notes, manual overrides, and optional memory based on human-confirmed examples. Note text is never rewritten.
• Quick topic assignment: type /Topic while writing. Search note text and topics with ⌘K, or ⌥⇧K from any app. Search never runs AI.
• Integrated All notes: ⌥⇧L opens the notes table in the notepad, with filtering, sorting, multiple selection, batch topic actions, Trash, and restore.
• Appearance and settings: twenty themes, font and size controls with live previews, and settings grouped into focused sections.
• Writing improvements: a draggable top bar, improved caret visibility, configurable global shortcuts, and remembered window size.
• Self-contained packages: the native MLX helper, Metal resources, and Swift compatibility libraries are included. Xcode is not required to run the app.

Changed window behaviour

Switching apps or clicking outside now keeps the notepad open. Use ⌥Space, Escape, or Copy & close to save and hide. ⌘F still expands/restores the window. Size and expanded state are remembered for 30 minutes by default, adjustable in Settings.

⌘K is search; ⌥⇧L is All notes. ⌘L is no longer bound. Reopening chooses the most recently edited active note.

Install or update

Download Drafts-0.9.1-universal.dmg, quit an older copy, and drag Drafts into Applications. Eject the disk image and launch Drafts from Applications. A ZIP, SHA256SUMS.txt, and release-info.json are also available. GitHub's “Source code” archives are not installers. There is no automatic updater.

This preview is ad-hoc signed and not Apple-notarized. If macOS blocks the official download and you trust it, first try opening the app, then use System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway. Never disable Gatekeeper, bypass a managed Mac's restrictions, or override malware or damaged-app warnings. See the installation guide for details and checksum verification.

Drafts lives in the menu bar, not the Dock. ⌥Space shows the notepad and saves/hides it on the next press; ⌘, opens Settings.

Data and limitations

• Notes and topic analysis stay on your Mac. Network access is used only for model downloads you request. No accounts, sync, analytics, clipboard monitoring, or Accessibility permission.
• Notes, manual topic choices, preferences, and downloaded models remain separate from the app bundle. Back up ~/Library/Application Support/Drafts/Notes/, including its hidden .drafts/ subfolder.
• Automatic deletion is off by default. If enabled, expired notes are permanently deleted, including Trash.
• Local AI is Apple Silicon only. Physical Intel hardware, Spaces, full-screen apps, multiple displays, and older supported macOS versions need broader testing.