Bookmarks

[samholmes]

I'd like to be able to manage my bookmarks from TabTab that way I have a browser agnostic bookmarks manager.

I'd imagine I can import bookmarks from different browsers.

Once my bookmarks are in TabTab, then I no longer need to use the browser's bookmarks, nor would I need to use the browser's tabs.

This idea comes from this problem: I am an Arc browser user. I've loved the sidebar and bookmark combination in Arc for the longest time. It makes so much sense to me to just have a sidebar with everything organized like a little shelf. Now, The Browser Company has moved on to develop Dia, a new browser. They are not focused on the same UX ideas from Arc in this new browser, but instead they're focused on AI integrations. That's cool, but I don't want to leave behind the great tab management and organizations tools that made Arc so great. Dia has since added a sidebar feature, but this does nothing for those who wish to view their bookmarks in the sidebar. The sidebar is the best UX for managing activity and organization around activities.

So, with that all said above, it'd be great if TabTab can become not only the way to switch between different app activities (tabs/windows), btu also a way to manage and save activities starting with web URLs (bookmarks). Is it possible to get the URL details of a web browser's tab?

I'd look into how Arc's sidebar is designed for inspiration for a Bookmarks feature. I'd imagine they'd be accessible from search mode. Perhaps a line separating the active tabs with the bookmarks much like how Arc is designed.

Being able to bookmark URLs would just be the start of this feature, but you could also bookmark apps which would be like pinning an app to the macOS dock for quick access. Think about all the things you can put int he dock, that's also available to be bookmarked. You can bookmark files and other things as well. This would make TabTab the final activity switching and organization tool you'd ever need.

[riccqi]

Hi Sam! Thank you for leaving this very thoughtful feedback. I've given this direction some thought.
It is indeed possible to get the URL of the tabs, and you can see them being used in favicons and for search in the new 2.0 update.

TabTab is primarily a windows/tabs switcher, so the organisation of the items in it is by recency of usage. Whereas a sidebar like in Arc is not organised by recency but rather determined by the user. These 2 UX directions makes it hard for them to coexist, unless they are in separate sections as you suggested.
I'd look into the idea of introducing a separate "pinned section" above the current recency-sorted tabs. But If you have other ideas to resolve this UX conflict, I would love to hear it!

Thanks again for leaving this feedback.

[samholmes]

Arc allows for ctrl+tab to switch recent tabs. What I am suggesting it that you keep the recency for switching via keyboard, but also a way to organize and manage open tabs/windows via the sidebar. What you suggest makes sense: order the tabs by recency, but also allow for a pinned section to organize the tabs in a sort of bookmarks section (much like how the dock is a bookmark of apps). When a bookmark/pinned item is opened, it moves to the activity section where it's sorted by recency.

This does feel like a very different app, and I suppose it is. The purpose of this suggestion is to make an app that is very useful to my needs (and I'm sure others). Keyboard-based window management is lacking on macOS, and seeing things like Omarchy take praise really makes me jealous of Linux and specifically these other solutions that macOS just doesn't have.

Making an app that really improves the experience and productivity on macOS would be inseparable. I'd pay for an app that solves the problem of managing activities on my computer once and for all apps on my machine. It's annoying to find one good app that solves the problem of managing multiple activities at scale, only to find it doesn't work in other apps or its support is dropped by the developers.

I've tried things like yubai+skhd and Aerospace, but they've been all glitchy and complex. An app that really focuses on this problem space and solves it could be a godsend.

What I need solved: A way to quickly switch between activities via a shortcut; a way for me to manage and organize my activities over time (curating the workspace). The ability for me restart my computer and pickup right where I left off would be amazing (re-open apps and windows where I left them). The ability for me to bookmark things so I have peace of mind that they're recorded and recoverable at a later time would solve the issue of losing track of things (browsers solve this, but I'm tired of browser vendors).

Just some insights I hope inspire perhaps some features in TabTab, but if not perhaps a new app entirely.