SuperOpt

SuperOpt is an open-source macOS menu bar app that makes the desktop behave more like Linux and GNOME. It is meant for people who already have years of muscle memory built around Control shortcuts, the Super key, GNOME's Activities overview, and familiar window controls. Instead of asking them to relearn every gesture on a Mac, SuperOpt translates many of those habits into the equivalent macOS actions. The result is a compatibility layer for daily interaction rather than a new launcher or window manager. It can be useful when a Linux user receives a Mac for work, switches between both systems, or uses a PC keyboard with a Mac.

Keyboard remapping covers common editing, file, browser, terminal, and code editor actions. Control can handle copy, paste, undo, search, tabs, and similar commands while SuperOpt triggers the macOS equivalents underneath. It also maps familiar actions such as Alt plus F4 for closing a window, F2 for renaming a Finder item, F11 for full screen, and Home and End for moving to the start or end of a line. Terminal mappings account for the different copy and paste combinations used on Linux, and code editor mappings cover actions such as the command palette, commenting, indentation, line movement, and find and replace. Every individual shortcut can be turned on or off, which helps avoid forcing one complete preset onto every app.

The Option key behavior is designed to coexist with shortcuts already present on the Mac. A single press is detected when the key is released, while combinations that use Option can continue to work normally. The Dock number mapping also lets the Finder position be configured, which matters because Dock layouts differ. These details support a gradual setup. Someone can enable a familiar launcher gesture or a small group of editing commands first, then add browser, terminal, and Finder mappings only where the defaults keep causing mistakes.

The GNOME influence extends beyond keystrokes. Moving the pointer to the top-left corner can open Mission Control with a ripple animation. Hovering over a window there can reveal a close button, and Tile Assist can suggest another window after one is placed on half of the screen. An optional change makes the green window button fill the screen instead of entering full screen, while another can add an opaque dark area behind the menu bar when a window fills the display. Pressing the Option key can open Mission Control, pressing it twice can open Spotlight Apps, and Option with a number can open a corresponding Dock app. Window tiling can also use Option with the arrow keys.

SuperOpt includes smaller behaviors that often make the difference between a familiar desktop and an irritating one. A Menu key on a PC keyboard can open a shortcut menu. Middle-click can paste into a text field or open a new window from a Dock icon while leaving native middle-click behavior alone elsewhere. Control with the scroll wheel can zoom in browsers, with a choice of natural or traditional direction. Finder can gain a cut and paste flow for moving files, and an onscreen indicator can report when Caps Lock changes. The settings window provides fine-grained switches for these functions, and the interface is available in eleven languages.

The privacy posture is straightforward because everything runs locally. The site says SuperOpt makes no network requests, collects no telemetry, and sends no data away from the Mac. Its source code is public, and it can be installed through the developer's Homebrew tap or downloaded from GitHub Releases. Releases are self-signed rather than notarized, so the first launch may require a Control-click and an explicit Open action to pass Gatekeeper. The project offers GitHub build attestations that link release files to source commits, immutable release assets, a pinned hash in the Homebrew cask, GPG-signed commits, and a public code-signing key for people who want to verify what they install.

That transparency does not remove the need for caution. SuperOpt needs Accessibility and Input Monitoring permissions because it watches global keyboard and mouse events, generates key events, and manages windows. The product page also carries a blunt warning that the project was made with AI assistance and hasn't been thoroughly vetted by a human. Users should review the source and start with only the mappings they need, especially on a managed work Mac. The homepage lists macOS Tahoe 26 or later, while the current repository README names macOS 27, so the latest release requirements should be checked before installation. There is no paid tier. SuperOpt is free software under the WTFPL v2, making it an unusually configurable option for Linux users who accept the permissions and early-project caveats.