Aside
A floating text editor for AI coding
Copy output from Claude Code, edit it, paste it back. No window switching.
Demo
Features
- Always on top — floating panel stays above every window. Code in your terminal, edit in Aside.
- Global hotkey — toggle with Cmd+Shift+A from anywhere. No mousing to the Dock.
- Multiple tabs — keep separate buffers for different snippets. Pin the ones you need.
- Markdown highlighting — syntax-highlighted editing for markdown, the lingua franca of AI output.
- Find in buffer — Cmd+F search across your current tab.
- Persistent tabs — everything survives app restarts. Your buffers are always there.
- Menu bar utility — lives in the menu bar, not the Dock. Zero visual clutter.
- Capture selection — select text in any app, capture it into a new Aside tab (Direct version).
- Dark theme — minimal chrome, dark by default. Built for late-night coding.
- Launch at login — start automatically so it's ready when you are.
- Adjustable font size — Cmd+/- to scale text up or down. Cmd+0 to reset.
- Word/character/line count — status bar shows buffer stats at a glance.
Why Aside
AI coding tools output a lot of text. Claude Code gives you a code block, Cursor suggests a refactor, Copilot generates a function. You need somewhere to put that text while you think about it, edit it, and paste it back.
A full text editor is too heavy. A sticky note app loses your work. Aside is the middle ground: a floating scratch buffer that stays on top of your terminal, persists across restarts, and gets out of the way with a single hotkey.
It works with any AI coding tool — Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Aider, OpenCode — or just as a general-purpose floating notepad.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Cmd+Shift+A | Toggle panel (global) |
| Cmd+N / Cmd+T | New tab |
| Cmd+W | Close tab |
| Cmd+Shift+[ / ] | Previous / next tab |
| Cmd+1-9 | Switch to tab |
| Cmd+F | Find in buffer |
| Cmd+= / Cmd+- | Font size up / down |
| Cmd+0 | Reset font size |
| Cmd+, | Settings |
| Escape | Hide panel |
Privacy
Aside stores all data locally on your Mac. No analytics, no tracking, no network requests. The only exception is Sparkle update checks in the direct download version, which you can disable. Full privacy policy.
Requirements
- macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later
- Apple Silicon or Intel
FAQ
What's the difference between Direct and App Store?
Same app. The direct version adds capture-selection (grab text from any app into a new tab) and Sparkle auto-updates. The App Store version is sandboxed and updates through the store.
Is there a free trial?
No, but it's $4.99 once. No subscription.
Does it work with Cursor / Copilot / other AI tools?
Yes. Aside is a general-purpose floating text editor. It works alongside any app — AI coding tools, terminals, browsers, whatever you need.
Can I use it as a regular notepad?
Absolutely. Aside is useful anytime you want a floating scratch buffer that persists and stays on top.
Why not just use a text editor?
Text editors live behind your other windows. Aside floats on top and toggles with a single hotkey. It's designed to be a companion to your main workspace, not a replacement.
