Shifty vs f.lux: which is better for Mac?

Shifty enhances Apple's built-in Night Shift with granular rules for apps and websites, staying within macOS's ecosystem, while f.lux is a cross-platform tool with more features but potential conflicts. Shifty is free and open-source, ideal for users who prefer system integration.

How to set up app-specific Night Shift rules with Shifty?

In Shifty's preferences, add applications to the exclusion list, and Night Shift will automatically disable when those apps are active. This is useful for tasks like graphic design where color accuracy is critical.

Does Shifty work with Firefox?

No, Shifty's website filtering feature currently only supports Safari, Chrome, and Vivaldi, as stated in the README. Firefox users cannot use this functionality without browser extensions or alternatives.

Can I use Shifty to control dark mode on macOS?

Yes, Shifty includes a dark mode scheduling feature that can automatically enable dark mode based on your Night Shift schedule, integrating seamlessly with macOS's appearance settings for a cohesive experience.

Is Shifty free to use?

Yes, Shifty is completely free and open-source, licensed under GPLv3, allowing users to modify, distribute, and contribute to the project without cost.

What browsers does Shifty support for website filtering?

Shifty supports Safari, Chrome, and Vivaldi for website filtering, as specified in the README. Other browsers like Edge or Opera are not supported, which may limit its utility for some users.

How to install Shifty on a Mac?

Download Shifty from its GitHub repository or official website, then install it like any standard macOS application. Ensure your system meets the requirements, such as macOS 10.12.4 or later and Night Shift compatibility.

Open-Awesome

Shifty

GPL-3.0Swiftv1.2

A macOS menu bar app that extends Night Shift with app-specific rules, website filtering, and fine-grained color temperature control.

Visit Website GitHub

1.3k stars35 forks0 contributors

What is Shifty?

Shifty is a macOS menu bar application that extends the functionality of Apple's Night Shift feature. It allows users to disable Night Shift for specific applications, websites, and custom time periods while providing a slider for fine-tuning color temperature. The tool transforms Night Shift into a customizable power-user feature rather than a basic system setting.

Target Audience

macOS users who want more control over Night Shift behavior, particularly power users, developers, and anyone sensitive to screen color temperature who needs granular rules for different contexts.

Value Proposition

Shifty provides granular control over Night Shift that macOS doesn't offer natively, including app-specific rules, website filtering, and custom schedules. It's free, open-source, and adds keyboard shortcuts and quick toggles for convenient access.

Overview

☀️ A macOS menu bar app that gives you more control over Night Shift.

Use Cases

Best For

Disabling Night Shift when using color-sensitive applications like photo editors
Excluding specific websites from Night Shift while browsing
Creating custom Night Shift schedules for different times of day
Quickly toggling Night Shift from the menu bar without opening System Preferences
Fine-tuning color temperature beyond macOS's limited Warm/Medium/Cool options
Setting up keyboard shortcuts for common Night Shift actions

Not Ideal For

Users on Windows or Linux who need cross-platform screen temperature management
Developers who require website filtering in browsers like Firefox or Edge
Environments where the built-in Night Shift schedule based on sunset/sunrise is sufficient without additional customization

Pros & Cons

Pros

Granular App Control

Allows disabling Night Shift for specific applications, which is perfect for color-sensitive work like photo editing, as highlighted in the features.

Website-Specific Filtering

Excludes Night Shift on certain websites while browsing in Safari, Chrome, or Vivaldi, enhancing usability for web tasks without affecting other apps.

Custom Scheduling

Enables creation of time-based rules to automatically enable or disable Night Shift, offering flexibility beyond macOS's default schedule.

Quick Access Features

Provides a menu bar toggle and global keyboard shortcuts for convenient control, eliminating the need to navigate System Preferences repeatedly.

Cons

Limited Browser Compatibility

Website filtering only works with Safari, Chrome, and Vivaldi, excluding popular browsers like Firefox and Edge, as admitted in the README.

macOS-Only Platform

The application is designed exclusively for macOS, making it useless for users on other operating systems despite the need for similar features.

Dependency on Night Shift

Requires macOS 10.12.4 or later and a system that supports Night Shift, so it fails on older or incompatible hardware, limiting its reach.

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