My take on the classic Macintosh app Stapler (Chris Patterson, Patterson Software Works, 1992).

With a little bit of the early Mac OS X app LaunchList (Ali Rantakari, hasseg.org, 2009).

More info in the accompanying blog post.

https://github.com/gingerbeardman/stapler/releases/latest

The idea is you set up a Stapler Document per project containing related apps, files, folders, etc.

Then you can open them all at once by launching the single document.

Each document contains a list of aliases that can be managed, inspected, launched using the app.

Task-based computing.

• Work: text editor, run current game, pixel art editor, bitmap font app, todo list
• Play: Music app, Hacker News app, Twitter app, script to position windows
• Movie: run Caffeine to keep your computer on, shortcut to put displays to sleep

• The app is digitally signed by me and my Apple developer account
• The app is not Notarised and I currently have no plans to do so
• You may need to do the right-click-choose-open Gatekeeper dance a couple of times to open it

1. Open Stapler.app
2. Create a New Document
3. Add some items
   • using drag and drop from Finder or other apps
   • or using the menu Items > Add
4. Items can be removed (they are aliases so files on disk are not affected)
5. Save your list as a Stapler Document

All standard macOS Document-Based App conventions are supported through the File menu. And things like Undo just works!

1. Open your Stapler Document
2. All items in the list will be launched automatically
3. Stapler.app will close (if it was not already open)

Tip: hold the Cmd key as the Stapler Document is being launching to open it in edit mode.

1. Open Stapler.app
2. Open a Stapler Document
3. Select the items you want to launch
4. Select Items > Launch (or press Return)

1. Open Stapler.app
2. Open a Stapler Document
   • use File > Open…
   • use File > Open Recent
3. Use the Items menu

• All files you select or drop are recorded only as system bookmarks
• The only files that are written are through the file save selector
• Read-only permission may be prompted for some folders
• Network permission is required to Quick Look .webloc files