Summary

Ironsmith is an open-source macOS menu bar app enabling instant creation of native SwiftUI Mac applications via AI prompts. It targets users needing to rapidly prototype or build small, focused utilities without extensive coding. Benefits include swift generation, building, and deployment of functional Mac apps, supporting both on-device and cloud LLMs.

How It Works

Users describe desired apps via prompts. Ironsmith uses AI models (local: Ollama, OpenAI-compatible; cloud: OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini) to generate Swift/SwiftUI code. Apps compile as Swift packages using Xcode Command Line Tools, bypassing the full Xcode IDE. Generated apps are automatically sandboxed and hardened for security.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Install: Download from GitHub Releases or website.
• Prerequisites: macOS 26+, Intel/Apple Silicon Mac. Apple Intelligence required for icons/Foundation Model. Xcode Command Line Tools needed for building (macOS prompts if missing).
• Development: Requires macOS 26+, Xcode Command Line Tools. Build via script/build.sh.
• Links: CONTRIBUTING.md for development workflow.

Highlighted Details

• Generates native macOS apps using Swift and SwiftUI.
• Strong support for local LLMs (Ollama, OpenAI-compatible servers).
• Integrates with hosted LLM providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini).
• Builds apps using only Xcode Command Line Tools, no full Xcode needed.
• Generated apps feature sandboxing and hardened runtime by default.
• Ideal for focused utilities (e.g., file organizers, PDF tools, data inspectors).

Maintenance & Community

Contributions via issues/PRs are welcomed, guided by CONTRIBUTING.md. No specific community channels or notable contributors/sponsorships detailed in the README.

Licensing & Compatibility

Licensed under GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPL v3.0). This copyleft license requires derivative works to also be distributed under GPL v3.0, potentially impacting commercial use or closed-source integration.

Limitations & Caveats

Requires macOS 26+. Security features (sandboxing, hardened runtime) can be disabled, necessitating code review. Apple Intelligence must be enabled for certain AI features.