- macOS Apps
- Codex Labs product
A fast menu-bar camera preview for macOS. Opens a live mirror of your own camera so you can check framing and appearance before or during a video call, then releases the camera the moment you are done with it.
The challenge
Checking your framing before a call normally means joining the call early or opening a heavyweight app, and most preview utilities hold the camera open afterwards, leaving the recording indicator lit and blocking other apps.
What we built
We built a menu-bar app that opens a live mirror in a lightweight floating window and gives the camera straight back when dismissed. It reports which camera and microphone are in use, and keeps working even when another application already has the device open.
Key features
- Instant self-view preview from the menu bar
- Releases the camera as soon as the preview closes
- Shows which camera is currently active
- Works while another app already holds the camera
- Surfaces microphone information alongside the preview
- Lightweight floating window that stays out of the way
- Notarized, Developer ID signed, with Hardened Runtime
Screenshots
Outcome
Shipped as a notarized, Developer ID signed macOS app, sold on taperlark.com with a one-time lifetime licence. Correct camera lifecycle handling is the product's core differentiator: the device is never held open longer than the preview is on screen.
Technologies
- Swift
- SwiftUI
- AVFoundation
- Sparkle
- Apple Notarization
Need something similar?
This project is part of our macos app development work.