macos-menubar-swiftui

macOS Menubar SwiftUI

Prefer MenuBarExtra (macOS 13+). Drop to an NSStatusItem bridge only for a requirement the SwiftUI scene cannot express. The scene is simple; the traps are around it, in activation, item mapping, the icon, and lifecycle.

Sibling skills own their topics. Do not restate them here:

• REQUIRED SUB-SKILL for a Launch at Login toggle: macos-launch-at-login (the four SMAppService statuses, requiresApproval).
• Global hotkeys: macos-global-shortcuts.
• A status item that opens a floating NSPanel instead of a popover: swiftui-floating-panel-menubar.
• Signing, notarization, DMG: macos-app-distribution-dmg.
• Shortcuts and Siri: apple-app-intents.

Decide the shape

Skeleton (window style)

import SwiftUI

@main
struct PulseApp: App {
    @State private var state = AppState()
    @AppStorage("showExtra") private var showExtra = true

    var body: some Scene {
        MenuBarExtra("Pulse", systemImage: "waveform", isInserted: $showExtra) {
            PopoverView()
                .environment(state)
                .frame(width: 280)          // .window style needs an explicit width
        }
        .menuBarExtraStyle(.window)
        // Custom asset instead of an SF Symbol: use the label closure.
        // MenuBarExtra(isInserted: $showExtra) { PopoverView() } label: { Image("MenuBarIcon") }

        Settings {
            SettingsView()
                .environment(state)         // scenes share no view tree; inject in both
        }
    }
}

struct PopoverView: View {
    @Environment(AppState.self) private var state

    var body: some View {
        VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 12) {
            Text(state.statusText)
            Divider()
            SettingsLink { Text("Settings…") }     // macOS 14+; opens or fronts the Settings scene
                .keyboardShortcut(",", modifiers: .command)
            Button("Quit Pulse") { NSApplication.shared.terminate(nil) }
                .keyboardShortcut("q", modifiers: .command)
        }
        .padding(16)
        .onAppear { NSApp.activate() }             // see "Windows open behind" below
    }
}

@Observable final class AppState {
    var statusText = "Ready"
}