MacMenuBar.com

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Bakari Chavanu’s Mac menu bar

In this section of MacMenuBar.com I post – on a regular basis – short interviews with MacOS users about which apps they use on their menu bar, and why. This time: Bakari Chavanu.

Tell us about yourself

I’m creator of the blog and YouTube channel, MacAutomationTips, which focuses on Mac automation applications, tips, and how-tos about using applications like Keyboard Maestro, BetterTouchTool, and Hazel. My full-time jobs involve content development and management of websites and social media sites for non-profit organizations.

What is your current laptop / desktop?

I’m currently use an iMac Retina 5k, 27″ and a 13″ MacBook Air. Also heavily use my iPad and of course iPhone.

What menu bar apps do you use and why?


  • Keyboard Maestro: for quickly access trigger pallets and other macro actions.
  • TextExpander: to access my TextExpander library.
  • SnappyApp: to open the SnappyApp screenshot library.
  • Drafts: for quickly adding quick notes to Drafts
  • PopClip: for formatting text and doing opening URLs
  • Google Play Music: for controlling the music player.
  • 1Password: for accessing login data
  • Day One: to quickly post entries in my Day One journal.
  • Fantastical: to add calendar dates.
  • Alfred: for opening applications, clipboard history, and automation workflows.
  • Amphetamine: to keep my computer awake for an extended period of time.
  • Bartender: to organize the menu bar applications I use.
  • Default Folder X: to some access recently opened folder and files.
  • BetterTouchTool: for triggering actions using finger gestures.
  • Hazel: for disabling and enabling my folder trigger rules.
  • CloudApp: for shooting quick desktop videos
  • MiniNote: for typing quick notes.
  • CarbonCopyClone: to backup my hard drive on a weekly basis.
  • DwellClick: a cool little utility app for “clicking” buttons without using manually clicking on my trackpad.
  • CleanMyMac: for accessing the app and information about my computer.
  • DropBox: cloud storage space.
  • ClipMenu: classic clipboard history app that I trigger using a BetterTouchTool finger gesture.
  • DropZone: to occasionally relocate files.

Note: some of my menu bar apps and features, such as SnappyApp 1Password, TextExpander, MiniNote, are triggered by finger gestures.

Is there a menu bar app that doesn’t exist yet and should be invented?

Would like to see menu bar apps for Slack, Todoist, Spark, Scrivener.

Want to share your Mac menu bar? That would me great!

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