Space Labels 🚀

Space Labels is a macOS utility designed for MacBook users with a hardware notch. It seamlessly extends your notch to display the name of your current Desktop (Space) and provides an interactive carousel to manage your workflow.

Features

• Notch Label Extension: Displays the current desktop name to the Left, Right, or Bottom of the physical notch.
• Dynamic Pill UI: The black background of the notch physically grows and shrinks to fit your custom space name.
• Interactive Carousel: Hover over the physical notch area to reveal a horizontal HUD showing all active desktops with real-time snapshots.
• Instant Desktop Switching: Click any preview image in the carousel to instantly jump to that desktop.
• Custom Naming: Click the name under any preview in the carousel to rename your desktop.
• Privacy First Snapshots: Snapshots are only captured when you visit a desktop and are kept strictly in-memory.
• Minimal Footprint: Operates as a background accessory app with a lean menu bar icon for preferences.

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🛠 Installation & "First Run" Fix

Because this app is independently developed and not notarized by Apple, macOS will prevent it from running by default when downloaded from the web. Follow these steps to install:

1. Download and Open: Open the SpaceLabels.dmg file.
2. Install: Drag the SpaceLabels icon into the Applications folder.
3. Bypass Security Warning:
   • Try to open the app from your /Applications folder. You will see a warning that it cannot be verified.
   • Open System Settings on your Mac.
   • Navigate to Privacy & Security.
   • Scroll down to the Security section.
   • You will see a message saying "SpaceLabels was blocked from use because it is not from an identified developer."
   • Click the "Open Anyway" button.
   • Authenticate with your password/TouchID, and then click Open one last time.
   • Note: You only need to do this once.

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🛰 Getting Space Switching to Work

Because macOS protects desktop switching behind system shortcuts, you must enable them for the "Click to Switch" feature to function:

1. Open System Settings on your Mac.
2. Navigate to Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts....
3. Select Mission Control from the left sidebar.
4. Locate the list of "Switch to Desktop 1", "Switch to Desktop 2", etc.
5. Enable the checkboxes for the desktops you use (e.g., Desktops 1-9).
   • Note: Space Labels simulates the Control + [Digit] shortcut to navigate. Ensure these shortcuts are assigned to those keys.

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📖 Usage Guide

Expanding & Collapsing the Notch

• Expand: If the notch is collapsed (standard size), Click the central notch area to reveal your desktop name label.
• Collapse: To hide your desktop name and return to a standard notch look, Click the extended label area (where the text is).

Using the Carousel

• Reveal: Move your mouse pointer directly over the physical hardware notch (center top of screen). The carousel will smoothly animate down.
• Dismiss: Move your mouse away from the carousel and notch area.
• Switching: Click any Snapshot Image to switch to that space.
• Renaming: Click the Text Label below a snapshot, type a new name, and press Enter. Press Esc to cancel.

Settings

• Click the Gear Icon in the top-right corner of the carousel modal to change the notch extension position (Left, Right, or Bottom).
• Access the Menu Bar Icon (Small window symbol) to open Preferences or Quit the app.

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Technical Details

• APIs: Uses ScreenCaptureKit for high-performance, secure snapshots.
• Events: Uses HID-level CGEvent simulation for instantaneous desktop switching.
• UI: Built entirely with SwiftUI and native AppKit window management for a cohesive macOS experience.