macOS · Menu bar

ClipShelf

Name: ClipShelf
Author: NoSleepLab

The thing you copied three copies ago, back at your cursor without leaving the app

Source onlyFree

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About ClipShelf

ClipShelf is a clipboard manager built around the gap between the hotkey and the paste. Press ⌘⌥V anywhere and a minimal dropdown appears at your cursor with recent clipboard entries — text, rich text, images with thumbnails, and file URLs. Paste with a click or a number key (1–6). Smart deduplication filters consecutive duplicates, keyboard navigation with arrow keys, and the dropdown repositions at screen edges. Configurable history size (3–20 items) and zero third-party dependencies.

Who it's for

Power users who copy and paste frequently throughout the day.

What it does

Appears at the cursor with ⌘⌥V
Supports text, rich text, images, and a copied file
Paste with click or number keys (1–6)
Smart deduplication and screen-edge repositioning
Configurable history size (3–20 items)

Behind the build

The hotkey first used Carbon's RegisterEventHotKey and seemed never to fire, but the real fault was timing: it was only registered once the menu bar menu had been opened.

The fix moved setup to launch and swapped Carbon for NSEvent global and local monitors, which need Accessibility to see key events. Pasting is two steps: write the item back to NSPasteboard, then post ⌘V with CGEvent 50 ms later. The dropdown is a non-activating NSPanel, so the app you were typing in stays active, and duplicates are caught by hashing the full pasteboard contents.

The full write-upmacOS global hotkey: RegisterEventHotKey vs an NSEvent monitor

Information

Runs on: macOS · Menu bar
Status: Source only
Price: Free
Requires: macOS 13+ · Accessibility permission

Source: Public on GitHub
Telemetry: None
Built with: Swift & SwiftUI

Stack: SwiftUINSPasteboardNSEvent monitorsCGEventNSPanel

Works well with

Grip
Grip protects your apps, ClipShelf protects your clipboard
DevLaunch
Copy project paths and env variables, then recall them off the shelf

ClipShelf is source only, for now.

The code is public, but there's no packaged release yet. Build it from the repository today, or leave an email and hear when there's one you can double-click.

Tell me when it ships View source

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