How do I install and set up MTMR on my Mac?

Download the .dmg from GitHub or use Homebrew, then enable Accessibility permissions in System Preferences. For detailed steps, refer to the medium article linked in the README.

MTMR vs BetterTouchTool: which one should I use?

MTMR is free and open-source with a focus on JSON customization, while BetterTouchTool is paid with a GUI and broader feature set. Choose MTMR for cost savings and hackability, but BTT for easier setup and support.

How to create a custom button that runs a shell script in MTMR?

Use the 'shellScriptTitledButton' type in the items.json file, specifying the inline script or file path. The README provides examples with refresh intervals and color formatting options.

Why are my MTMR buttons or gestures not working after an update?

This often happens due to Accessibility permission resets. Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Accessibility and re-tick MTMR, as mentioned in the troubleshooting section.

Can I use MTMR to display live system stats like CPU usage?

Yes, MTMR includes native plugins like 'cpu' for low-power monitoring, or you can create custom shell script buttons. The native plugin is recommended for better stability.

How do I import or share presets with MTMR?

Presets are JSON files stored in ~/Library/Application Support/MTMR/. You can download community presets from GitHub and replace or merge them, using the MTMR Designer for visual editing.

Open-Awesome

MyTouchbarMyRules

MITSwiftv0.27.0

A macOS app for fully customizing the Touch Bar on MacBook Pro with plugins, gestures, and presets.

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4.4k stars234 forks0 contributors

What is MyTouchbarMyRules?

MTMR (My TouchBar My Rules) is a macOS application that allows users to completely customize the Touch Bar on their MacBook Pro. It replaces the default Touch Bar interface with user-defined buttons, widgets, and controls, enabling automation, system monitoring, and personalized workflows directly from the Touch Bar.

Target Audience

MacBook Pro users who want to maximize productivity and personalize their Touch Bar beyond Apple's default offerings, particularly power users, developers, and automation enthusiasts.

Value Proposition

MTMR is free, open-source, and highly extensible, offering a plugin-based architecture and JSON configuration that provides deeper customization than most commercial alternatives, all without subscription fees.

Overview

🌟 [My TouchBar My rules]. The Touch Bar Customisation App for your MacBook Pro

Use Cases

Best For

Replacing the default Touch Bar with system monitoring widgets (CPU, weather, battery)
Adding custom media controls and playback information to the Touch Bar
Creating Touch Bar shortcuts for launching apps or running scripts
Implementing gesture-based controls for volume, brightness, or custom actions
Building personalized productivity dashboards with calendar events and pomodoro timers
Sharing and importing pre-made Touch Bar layouts from the community

Not Ideal For

Users who want a plug-and-play Touch Bar solution without any configuration
Developers working on non-macOS platforms or Macs without a Touch Bar
Teams requiring official support, SLA, or enterprise-grade stability
Projects where system permissions for Accessibility APIs are restricted or monitored

Pros & Cons

Pros

Deep Customization Flexibility

Supports a wide range of button types including native plugins (CPU, weather), custom scripts via AppleScript or shell, and static elements, allowing users to tailor the Touch Bar precisely to their workflow.

Gesture-Enhanced Control

Enables two, three, or four-finger swipe gestures for actions like volume adjustment or running custom scripts, adding dynamic interaction beyond static buttons.

Community-Driven Presets

Users can create, share, and import JSON-based presets through platforms like GitHub, fostering a rich ecosystem of pre-built layouts for quick setup.

Native macOS Integration

Leverages macOS Accessibility APIs to control system functions like brightness, volume, and media keys, ensuring seamless operation with core OS features.

Cons

Manual Configuration Complexity

Setup requires editing JSON files or using a separate web-based designer, and users must manually enable Accessibility permissions, which can be daunting for non-technical users.

Dependent on macOS and Hardware

Tied exclusively to macOS 10.12.2+ and MacBook Pro models with a Touch Bar, making it irrelevant for other systems or newer Macs without this hardware.

Potential Stability and Permission Issues

Relies on macOS Accessibility APIs that can break with updates, and troubleshooting often involves re-enabling permissions, as noted in the README for non-functional buttons or gestures.

Open Source Alternative To

MyTouchbarMyRules is an open-source alternative to the following products:

BetterTouchTool

Frequently Asked Questions

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