# Core Features of Vorssaint-Utils: A Complete Guide to the Modular macOS Utility Hub

> Explore the core features of Vorssaint-Utils, a modular macOS utility hub. Manage windows, monitor your system, and more via a single menu-bar icon. Discover its dynamic tools today.

- Repository: [vorssaint/vorssaint-utils](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils)
- Tags: deep-dive
- Published: 2026-09-09

---

**Vorssaint-utils is a modular macOS utility platform that exposes dozens of independent tools—ranging from window management to system monitoring—through a single menu-bar icon, with each feature defined in the `AppFeature` enum and dynamically activated via UserDefaults.**

Unlike monolithic utility apps that force users to load every tool simultaneously, the core features of vorssaint-utils are architected around a **feature hub** design. This approach allows you to install only the utilities you need, conserving CPU, memory, and energy while maintaining a lightweight footprint. According to the vorssaint/vorssaint-utils source code, each capability is cataloged in [`Sources/Vorssaint/Core/FeatureCatalog.swift`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/Sources/Vorssaint/Core/FeatureCatalog.swift), grouped into logical categories, and governed by a permission system that requests only the specific macOS grants required for active features.

## How the Feature Hub Architecture Works

The foundation of vorssaint-utils lies in the `AppFeature` enum, which serves as the single source of truth for every utility available in the app.

### The AppFeature Enum

Located in [`FeatureCatalog.swift`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/FeatureCatalog.swift), the `AppFeature` enum defines stable identifiers for all utilities, their availability keys, enable flags, and required permissions. Each feature declares:

- **`availabilityKey`** – A `DefaultsKey` (stored in `UserDefaults`) that tracks whether the feature is installed
- **`enabledKeys`** – One or more Boolean keys that determine if the feature is currently active
- **`permissions`** – The specific macOS permissions (Accessibility, Screen Recording, etc.) required for operation

This declarative structure allows the app to calculate feature state dynamically. When you toggle a feature off or uninstall it, the corresponding `availabilityKey` is set to `false`, immediately freeing system resources.

### Dynamic Activation and Permission Mapping

The hub checks both the `availabilityKey` and `enabledKeys` to determine if a feature should run. This design powers the permission-request flow: instead of demanding all permissions at launch, vorssaint-utils uses the `activeFeatures(using:)` method to identify which features are currently engaging a specific permission type (such as `.accessibility` or `.screenRecording`), then requests only those grants.

## Core Features of Vorssaint-Utils by Category

The utilities are organized into seven logical groups within the Settings UI, each containing specific capabilities accessed via the `AppFeature` enum.

### Windows & Dock Management

These features enhance macOS window switching and organization:

- **`AppFeature.switcher`** – An enhanced Command-Tab experience with live window thumbnails, replacing the native app switcher
- **`AppFeature.dockPreview`** – Hover-over window thumbnails that appear when hovering dock icons, providing visual previews before switching
- **`AppFeature.windowLayout`** – Snap windows to halves, thirds, corners, or custom grid positions using keyboard shortcuts or drag zones

### Mouse & Keyboard Utilities

Input customization tools that modify macOS behavior:

- **`AppFeature.focusFollowsMouse`** – Automatically focuses windows when the cursor hovers over them, similar to X11 window managers
- **`AppFeature.smoothScroll`** and **`AppFeature.scrollInverter`** – Custom scrolling acceleration curves and direction inversion independent of system settings
- **`AppFeature.superKey`** – Remaps Caps Lock or right-side modifiers into a custom hyper key for complex shortcuts

### Clipboard & File Management

Productivity tools for data manipulation:

- **`AppFeature.clipboardHistory`** – Persistent clipboard storage with pinning capabilities, image support, and automatic clearing intervals
- **`AppFeature.shelf`** – A temporary "parking" area for files, text snippets, and links, accessible via the menu bar
- **`AppFeature.urlCleaner`** – Automatically strips tracking parameters (UTMs, fbclid, etc.) from copied URLs

### Sound Control

Advanced audio management beyond macOS defaults:

- **`AppFeature.mixer`** – Per-application volume control with the ability to boost audio past 100%, plus the option to hide inactive apps from the mixer
- **`AppFeature.soundOutputSwitcher`** – Rapid audio output switching via keyboard shortcut, bypassing the Sound preference pane

### Energy & Display

Power management and screen adjustment tools:

- **`AppFeature.keepAwake`** – Prevents sleep through multiple methods including mouse jiggling or keeping the lid open during clamshell mode
- **`AppFeature.brightness`** and **`AppFeature.extraBrightness`** – Display brightness controls that can push XDR displays (like Pro Display XDR or MacBook Pro Liquid Retina XDR) past their normal maximum nits

### Tools & Launchers

System utilities and automation:

- **`AppFeature.commandBar`** – A universal launcher supporting actions, app opening, text snippet insertion, and custom workflows
- **`AppFeature.screenshot`** and **`AppFeature.screenRecorder`** – Screen capture with area selection, recording with audio track selection, and OCR text extraction
- **`AppFeature.cleaner`** and **`AppFeature.uninstaller`** – Cache and log sweeping, plus complete application removal including associated files

### System Monitor

Hardware monitoring with visualization:

- **`AppFeature.monitorCPU`**, **`AppFeature.monitorMemory`**, **`AppFeature.monitorDisk`**, **`AppFeature.monitorPower`**, and **`AppFeature.monitorNetwork`** – Live graphing of system metrics with configurable alert thresholds
- **`AppFeature.fanControl`** (beta) – Manual fan speed curve adjustment for thermal management

## Working with Features Programmatically

The vorssaint-utils codebase exposes a public API for inspecting and toggling features. You can query feature states or enable utilities programmatically using Swift.

### Querying Feature State

To check if a feature is active, verify both its availability and enabled status:

```swift
import Foundation
import Vorssaint

func isFeatureActive(_ feature: AppFeature) -> Bool {
    // Check if feature is installed via availabilityKey
    let available = UserDefaults.standard.bool(forKey: feature.availabilityKey)
    
    // Check if at least one enable key is true (empty array means always enabled)
    let enabled = feature.enabledKeys.isEmpty ||
        feature.enabledKeys.contains { UserDefaults.standard.bool(forKey: $0) }
    
    return available && enabled
}

// Example usage
let switcherActive = isFeatureActive(.switcher)
print("Switcher active: \(switcherActive)")

```

### Enabling Features Programmatically

You can activate features by setting their availability and enable keys:

```swift
func enableFeature(_ feature: AppFeature) {
    // Mark as available/installed
    UserDefaults.standard.set(true, forKey: feature.availabilityKey)
    
    // Enable primary toggle
    if let primaryKey = feature.enabledKeys.first {
        UserDefaults.standard.set(true, forKey: primaryKey)
    }
}

// Enable the shelf utility
enableFeature(.shelf)

```

### Checking Permission Requirements

To identify which active features require specific macOS permissions:

```swift
let activeAccessibility = AppFeature.activeFeatures(
    using: .accessibility,
    defaults: .standard
)
print("Features using Accessibility: \(activeAccessibility.map { $0.rawValue })")

```

## Summary

The core features of vorssaint-utils demonstrate a privacy-first, modular approach to macOS system utilities:

- **Modular Architecture** – The `AppFeature` enum in [`FeatureCatalog.swift`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/FeatureCatalog.swift) defines every utility with `availabilityKey` and `enabledKeys` for dynamic loading
- **Seven Feature Categories** – Windows & Dock, Mouse & Keyboard, Clipboard & Files, Sound, Energy & Display, Tools, and System Monitor
- **Resource Efficiency** – Features can be individually uninstalled, immediately freeing CPU and memory resources
- **Privacy-by-Design** – Permission mapping ensures only required macOS grants (Accessibility, Screen Recording, etc.) are requested for active features
- **Local-First** – No telemetry; all data and preferences remain on the local machine through `UserDefaults`

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How does vorssaint-utils handle permissions compared to other utility apps?

Unlike traditional macOS utilities that request all permissions at launch, vorssaint-utils uses the `permissions` property of the `AppFeature` enum to declare required grants per feature. The `activeFeatures(using:)` method calculates which features are currently enabled for a specific permission type (such as `.accessibility` or `.screenRecording`), and the app requests only those specific macOS grants when needed. This minimizes the attack surface and respects user privacy by avoiding unnecessary system access.

### Can I uninstall individual features to free up system resources?

Yes. Each feature in [`FeatureCatalog.swift`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/FeatureCatalog.swift) has an `availabilityKey` stored in `UserDefaults`. Setting this key to `false` marks the feature as uninstalled, which immediately stops its background processes and frees associated CPU, memory, and energy resources. This modular approach allows you to run a lightweight configuration with only the tools you actively use.

### Where is the feature configuration stored in the source code?

Feature definitions reside in [`Sources/Vorssaint/Core/FeatureCatalog.swift`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/Sources/Vorssaint/Core/FeatureCatalog.swift), which contains the `AppFeature` enum defining all utilities, their grouping logic (`FeatureGroup`), and permission requirements (`AppPermission`). UI strings for these features are localized in [`FeatureStrings.swift`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/FeatureStrings.swift), while the application entry point in [`main.swift`](https://github.com/vorssaint/vorssaint-utils/blob/main/main.swift) initializes the menu-bar icon and injects the feature hub into the user interface.

### Is there a programmatic way to check which features are slowing down my system?

While vorssaint-utils does not include a built-in performance profiler, you can use the `AppFeature` API to audit active features. By iterating through `AppFeature.allCases` and checking `isFeatureActive()` for each, or by using `activeFeatures(using:)` to see which utilities require specific high-impact permissions (like Screen Recording), you can identify and disable resource-intensive modules. The System Monitor features (`monitorCPU`, `monitorMemory`) also provide real-time graphs to observe the impact of enabling specific utilities.