> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.nativeline.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Your First Mac App

> Build your first Mac app in 15 minutes

# Your First Mac App

**⏱️ 15 minutes**

Let's build a Mac app! This tutorial walks you through creating a native macOS application with Nativeline. Unlike iPhone and iPad apps, your Mac app runs directly on your machine — no simulator needed.

## What You'll Build

A simple clipboard manager that:

* Tracks your copy history automatically
* Lets you search through previous items
* Makes it easy to re-copy anything from your history

Simple, but you'll learn the key patterns that make Mac apps feel native.

***

## Step 1: Create a New App

Open Nativeline. On the Home Page, select **Mac** from the platform selector.

You'll see:

> **"Tell me about the app you're imagining..."**

Type your app description:

```
A clipboard manager that tracks my copy history and lets me search and re-copy previous items
```

Click **Create** or press Enter.

<Tip>
  Mac apps have different UI patterns than iPhone apps — menu bars, keyboard shortcuts, and window management are all native. Nativeline handles these automatically.
</Tip>

***

## Step 2: Complete the Wizard

Nativeline's wizard helps customize your app with a few quick questions:

### What feel do you want?

Choose **Dark & minimal** — this fits the utility-app vibe of a clipboard manager.

### Similar apps?

You can skip this or type "like Paste or Maccy" for inspiration.

### Pick colors

Choose **Monochrome** or any palette you like. Dark palettes work great for utility apps.

### Name your app

Enter: **ClipManager**

Click **Create App** to continue.

***

## Step 3: Watch It Build

Nativeline now creates your app:

1. **Setting up the project** — Creating the Xcode structure
2. **Writing the code** — Generating Swift/SwiftUI
3. **Building** — Compiling everything

This takes 30-60 seconds. You'll see a progress animation.

<Note>
  Mac apps run natively on your Mac — no simulator needed. After building, the app opens in its own window.
</Note>

***

## Step 4: Explore Your Workspace

Once complete, you'll see the main workspace:

### Chat Interface (Full Width)

Your Nativeline workspace shows the chat interface at full width — there's no embedded simulator pane for Mac apps.

* **Your messages** — What you ask for
* **AI responses** — What the AI is doing
* **Tool cards** — Files being created/edited
* **Todo list** — Current tasks

### Your Mac App (Separate Window)

Your clipboard manager runs in its own native macOS window. Switch to it using the Dock, Mission Control, or Cmd+Tab.

Try copying some text from different apps and watch the clipboard history populate!

***

## Step 5: Make Your First Change

Let's customize the app. In the chat, type:

```
Add a search bar at the top to filter clipboard history by content
```

Watch the AI:

1. **Plan** the change
2. **Edit** the code
3. **Rebuild** the app
4. **Show** the result

Your clipboard manager now has search functionality!

***

## Step 6: Add a Feature

Let's add a native Mac feature. Type:

```
Add keyboard shortcut Cmd+Shift+V to show the clipboard history window
```

The AI will:

1. Register the global keyboard shortcut
2. Wire it up to show the window
3. Handle focus and activation

Test it — press Cmd+Shift+V from any app and your clipboard history should appear.

***

## Step 7: Polish the Design

Let's make it look great. Type:

```
Add category tags for links, text, and images. Add a pin feature to keep important items at the top.
```

Now you have a polished clipboard manager with organization features!

***

## Experiment Further

Try these prompts to explore more:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Add a menu bar icon" icon="bars">
    "Add a menu bar icon that shows recent clipboard items in a dropdown"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Add auto-cleanup" icon="clock">
    "Automatically delete clipboard items older than 7 days to keep things tidy"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Add favorites" icon="star">
    "Let me mark items as favorites so they're always easy to find"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Export as DMG" icon="box-archive">
    "Package this app as a DMG so I can share it with friends"
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## What You Learned

Congratulations! You just:

* Created a native Mac app from a description
* Used macOS-native patterns like keyboard shortcuts and window management
* Tested your app natively on your own Mac — no simulator required
* Added search, categories, and pinning features
* Styled your app with a dark, minimal aesthetic

You've got the Mac basics down. The key difference from iPhone and iPad apps is that Mac apps run natively, support keyboard shortcuts, and use macOS-specific UI patterns like menu bars.

<Note>
  When you're ready to share your Mac app, you can export it as a DMG file. See [DMG Export](/guides/dmg-export) for details.
</Note>

***

## Common Issues

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The app window didn't appear" icon="window-maximize">
    * Check your Dock for the app icon
    * Use Cmd+Tab to find it
    * It may be behind other windows — try Mission Control (swipe up with three fingers)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Keyboard shortcut isn't working" icon="keyboard">
    * Make sure you granted accessibility permissions when prompted
    * Check **System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility** to verify
    * Try quitting and reopening the app
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Build failed" icon="circle-xmark">
    Don't worry! Nativeline automatically:

    1. Detects the error
    2. Proposes a fix
    3. Rebuilds

    If it keeps failing, describe the issue in your own words.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="App doesn't match what I asked for" icon="circle-question">
    Be more specific in your next prompt:

    * Instead of "make it bigger" → "make the window 600x400 pixels"
    * Instead of "add a shortcut" → "add Cmd+K to open the search bar"
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Multi-Platform Guide" icon="devices" href="/guides/multi-platform">
    Learn to build apps that work across iPhone, iPad, and Mac
  </Card>

  <Card title="Chat Interface Guide" icon="comments" href="/features/chat-interface">
    Master the Nativeline workspace
  </Card>
</CardGroup>