Visual task switcher for Mac with customizable hotkey
Todos, developed by OpenSoft, is a visual task switcher for Mac that presents a bird's‑eye view of open applications. By pressing a customizable hotkey the app displays a transparent grid of icons representing running programs and windows, enabling faster visual selection during complex workflows. The tool focuses on quick, low-overhead navigation and configurable presentation, and it targets Mac power users and developers who need a visual alternative to keyboard-only switchers.
How Todos replaces keyboard switching with a click‑focused grid
Instead of cycling through icons with the keyboard, the app surfaces a tile-like overview of every running program and its windows so users can choose by sight. The grid groups items for visual scanning and includes controls to hide clutter; users can option-click an icon to exclude an application from the view. That approach shortens the time spent locating a window in sessions with many open programs.
How much presentation and behavior control the tool exposes
Customization centers on presentation and selection behavior rather than deep system hooks. The app provides customizable hotkeys, adjustable transparency for the overlay, and directory or name-based sorting. Key configuration points include:
- transparency slider for fade in/out behavior
- sorting modes to change icon order
- per-app exclusion via option-click
What it demands from system resources during use
Todos is noted for a light runtime profile relative to contemporaneous utilities, a practical consideration on PowerPC and early Intel Macs. The design keeps the interface as a small background utility rather than a full window manager, so it imposes modest load on period hardware. The app also used Sparkle for update checks while it was maintained, a background activity that historically ran as brief network checks.
Why compatibility and maintenance limit modern use
The tool targets legacy Mac OS X and early hardware generations; the last major update shipped aroundIt was built for PowerPC and early Intel architecture and relies on older system APIs, so it generally does not run on recent desktop releases that require 64-bit binaries. The developer no longer issues updates, so using the app requires legacy system builds or virtualized environments to avoid compatibility gaps.
A practical choice for legacy Mac power users, with clear compatibility limits
Todos is a practical option for someone running older Mac OS X installations or virtual machines who wants a sight-based alternative to keyboard switching. Expect limited use on contemporary desktop systems because of its reliance on legacy APIs and the lack of recent maintenance. If you maintain older hardware or an archive environment, the app provides a compact visual switcher worth keeping alongside legacy workflows.
