Overview
I built a native macOS app — without writing a single line of Swift myself.
Promptzy started as a personal itch. I was spending hours each week managing AI prompts across tools — copy-pasting between apps, losing track of what worked, and watching good prompts disappear into chat history. So I built exactly what I needed: a native macOS utility that lives in the menu bar, launches instantly with a global shortcut, and stores everything as plain Markdown files.
What makes this project different: I used AI as my entire development team. Claude wrote the PRD and technical architecture. Cursor implemented every line of Swift and SwiftUI. I directed the entire process — making every design, product, and business decision — while AI handled the implementation.
Preview
Promptzy Preview
This promo video was 100% AI-generated using Remotion — a React-based framework for programmatic video.
The Problem
Good prompts kept disappearing into chat history.
Every existing prompt tool stored prompts in proprietary formats or cloud-only databases. I wanted something simpler: plain .md files I own, instant access from anywhere on macOS, and a way to reuse prompts across Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and every other AI tool without friction.
Nothing on the market did this well. Most tools were browser extensions tied to a single chat interface, or heavyweight apps that tried to do everything. I needed a fast, native utility — not another Electron app.
What I Built
A native macOS prompt manager that stays out of your way.
Promptzy is a menubar utility with a few sharp features designed to minimize friction between having a good prompt and using it:
- Global Quick Launcher A system-wide shortcut opens Promptzy instantly from any app. Search, select, and paste a prompt without leaving your current workflow.
- One-Click Paste API Select a prompt and it's injected directly into your active text field. No copy-paste dance.
- Plain Markdown Storage Every prompt is a
.mdfile in a folder you control. No lock-in, no proprietary formats. - Variables & Templating Define dynamic placeholders like
{{topic}}or{{tone}}that fill in at paste time. - Freemium Model Free tier with core features. Paid upgrade for unlimited prompts, variables, and iCloud sync.
- iCloud Sync Prompts stay in sync across all your Macs via iCloud Drive.
Core Interaction
The Global Quick Launcher
The heart of Promptzy is the Quick Launcher — a Spotlight-like search bar that opens with a global keyboard shortcut. Start typing, fuzzy-match your prompts, hit Enter, and the prompt is pasted directly into whatever app you're working in. The entire interaction takes under two seconds.
How I Built It
AI was my entire engineering team.
This project is a proof point for what a single designer can ship when AI handles the implementation. Here's how the stack worked:
The AI Stack
Two tools. One builder. Full product.
Claude — Strategy & Architecture
Wrote the product requirements document, defined the technical architecture, researched macOS APIs, and helped debug complex Swift issues through conversation.
Cursor — Implementation
Implemented every line of Swift and SwiftUI. Built the entire codebase — UI components, data layer, system integrations, payment flows, and App Store submission scripts.
What I directed — every design, product, and business decision
AI wrote the code, but I made every decision that shaped the product:
- UX & interaction design How the Quick Launcher feels, animation timing, keyboard navigation flows
- Visual design Dark/light themes, typography, spacing, iconography, App Store creative
- Product scoping What to build, what to cut, feature prioritization for v1.0
- Business model Freemium structure, pricing, what gates the paywall
- Architecture decisions Local-first with optional sync, Markdown as the file format, menubar vs. standalone app
- Quality bar Reviewed and refined every interaction until it felt right
Under the hood
The app is more complex than it looks. Some of the deeper systems AI helped build:
- macOS Accessibility API The paste-to-active-app feature uses the macOS Accessibility framework to inject text into any focused text field, system-wide
- Lemon Squeezy integration In-app purchase flow, license validation, and freemium gating via Lemon Squeezy's API
- iCloud Drive sync CloudKit-backed sync for prompt libraries across devices, with conflict resolution
- Sparkle auto-update Silent background updates via the Sparkle framework for non-App Store distribution
- MCP Server A built-in Model Context Protocol server that lets Claude and other AI tools read and search your prompt library directly
Results
One designer. Zero engineers. Full product.
Reflection
An experiment in doing everything with AI.
Promptzy was my way of stress-testing every AI tool available — Claude for strategy, Cursor for code, Remotion for video — to see what one designer can actually ship alone. It taught me where AI accelerates the work, where it falls short, and what it takes to build something real without an engineering team.