https://github.com/geezerrrr/motive
The AI agent that works while you don't watch. Lives in your menu bar, finds you when needed.
https://github.com/geezerrrr/motive
ai-agent ai-agents ai-tools claude-code codex cowork gemini-cli macos openai opencode openwork
Last synced: 7 days ago
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The AI agent that works while you don't watch. Lives in your menu bar, finds you when needed.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/geezerrrr/motive
- Owner: geezerrrr
- License: mit
- Created: 2026-01-20T03:37:30.000Z (28 days ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-02-07T11:15:12.000Z (9 days ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-02-07T20:28:36.887Z (9 days ago)
- Topics: ai-agent, ai-agents, ai-tools, claude-code, codex, cowork, gemini-cli, macos, openai, opencode, openwork
- Language: Swift
- Homepage: https://motivework.app
- Size: 56.3 MB
- Stars: 15
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 2
- Open Issues: 1
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Contributing: CONTRIBUTING.md
- License: LICENSE
- Security: SECURITY.md
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README
Motive
Say it. Walk away.
A personal AI agent for macOS. Turns intent into completed work, running from your menu bar.
---
## Why Motive?
Today's AI tools keep you hostage — Cursor locks you in a window, Claude Code blocks your terminal. Switch away, and you'll miss prompts or return to a stale `[Y/n]` that's been waiting for minutes.
**Motive lives in your menu bar.** AI works in the background. When it needs you, a lightweight popup drops down from the menu bar — no need to switch apps. One click, done, back to your flow.
| | Desktop Apps | CLI Tools | **Motive** |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Where it lives** | App window | Terminal | Menu bar |
| **Permission prompts** | Buried in UI | Blocks terminal | Menu bar popup |
| **Switch apps?** | Miss responses | Hangs silently | AI finds you |
## Features
- **Intent-first** — Describe tasks in natural language, press Enter, done. No conversation needed.
- **True background execution** — AI works as a background process, like compiling or rendering.
- **Menu bar notifications** — Permission requests drop down from the menu bar, not buried in an app window.
- **Ambient status** — A subtle menu bar icon shows progress without demanding attention.
- **You are the final arbiter** — Like macOS system permission dialogs, you approve only what matters.
- **Local-first** — All data stays on your machine. Only AI API requests leave your device.
- **Native macOS** — Built with SwiftUI and AppKit. No Electron, no web views.
- **Multi-provider** — Claude, OpenAI, Gemini, or fully local with Ollama.
## Screenshots & Demo
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/6209e3d9-60db-4166-a14a-ae90cdbc01d6
## Quick Start
### Install
Download the latest release for your architecture:
| Chip | Download |
|------|----------|
| Apple Silicon | [Motive-arm64.dmg](https://github.com/geezerrrr/motive/releases/latest/download/Motive-arm64.dmg) |
| Intel | [Motive-x86_64.dmg](https://github.com/geezerrrr/motive/releases/latest/download/Motive-x86_64.dmg) |
> **First launch:** If blocked, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Click "Open Anyway"
### Configure
1. Click the menu bar icon → **Settings**
2. Select your AI provider (Claude / OpenAI / Gemini / Ollama)
3. Enter your API key
### Use
1. Press `⌥Space` to summon the command bar
2. Describe what you want done
3. Press Enter — the bar disappears, you're free
4. Check the menu bar icon for status; click to view details
## Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|----------|--------|
| `⌥Space` | Open command bar |
| `↵` | Submit intent |
| `Esc` | Dismiss command bar |
| `⌘,` | Open settings |
## Build from Source
```bash
git clone https://github.com/geezerrrr/motive.git
cd motive
open Motive.xcodeproj
```
The OpenCode binary is bundled automatically during release builds. For development, place it at `Motive/Resources/opencode`.
## Requirements
- macOS 15.0 (Sequoia) or later
- API key for Claude, OpenAI, Gemini, or local Ollama setup
## FAQ
How is this different from Cursor / Claude Desktop / Claude Code / Gemini CLI?
**Desktop apps** (Cursor, Claude Desktop) are **window-locked** — you must stay in their interface.
**CLI tools** (Claude Code, Gemini CLI) are **terminal-locked** — if you switch away, the terminal hangs waiting for input. You come back to find a cryptic `[Y/n]` prompt that's been sitting there for 20 minutes.
**Motive** lives in your menu bar — the AI runs as a background process. When it needs your input, a popup drops down from the menu bar. One click, done, back to your flow.
Think: desktop apps are like a colleague who insists you sit in their office. CLI tools are like someone who emails you but marks it "urgent" with no notification. Motive is like a colleague who taps your shoulder only when necessary, handles everything else autonomously.
Why does Motive need Accessibility permission?
To register the global hotkey (`⌥Space`) that summons the command bar from anywhere. Without it, you'd need to click the menu bar icon every time.
Is my data sent to the cloud?
Motive is local-first. Sessions and history stay on your machine. The only network traffic is API requests to your chosen AI provider. Use Ollama for 100% offline operation.
Can I use a local LLM?
Yes. Select Ollama as your provider and point it to your local instance. Zero cloud dependency.
What can Motive do?
Anything an AI coding agent can do: refactor code, generate files, run scripts, organize projects, write docs, and more. Motive passes your intent to OpenCode, which has full filesystem and terminal access.
## Roadmap
### Completed
- [x] **Multi-language UI** — English, 简体中文, 日本語
- [x] **Browser automation** — Full support for web scraping, form filling, and browser-based workflows
### In Progress
- [ ] **Multi-task queue** — Task queuing with parallel execution for independent tasks and sequential processing for dependent ones
- [ ] **Task resume** — Interrupt and resume long-running tasks, preserving state across app restarts
### Planned
- [ ] **Custom Skills** — User-defined skills via `~/.motive/skills/` directory, no code required
- [ ] **Personal Profile** — Store personal context (name, preferences, work style) for more relevant AI responses
- [ ] **Memory & RAG** — Long-term memory with retrieval-augmented generation for context-aware assistance
- [ ] **Task templates** — Save and reuse common task patterns with customizable parameters
## Acknowledgments
Powered by [OpenCode](https://github.com/anomalyco/opencode) — the open-source AI coding agent that makes autonomous task execution possible.
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Let AI wait for you, so you don't have to wait for it.
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