A macOS app that blurs your screen when you slouch

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Security, Privacy, and Trust

  • Strong concern about giving a background app continuous camera access, even for a simple posture tool. Some say they’d never install an unaudited camera app; others are reassured by the tiny, open-source codebase.
  • Debate over how much notarization helps: described as mostly a malware scan that can be bypassed; revocation only happens after third‑party detection. Consensus: if you’re truly paranoid, compile from source yourself.
  • Worry that binaries could differ from the repo; notarization doesn’t fully solve that. DIY builds are seen as the only strong guarantee.
  • Some users dislike that an always‑on camera defeats the usefulness of the indicator light; a few want hardware kill switches or use physical covers instead.

Monetization and Distribution

  • Several commenters would happily pay (e.g., $10) for a notarized, polished build, especially if it saves them effort and risk.
  • Others think paying for notarization of open-source tools is a niche desire and not a strong monetization strategy.
  • New macOS security behavior (Sequoia) made launching the unsigned app confusing; notarization later addressed this.

Implementation, Performance, and Ports

  • App is a small Swift codebase using Apple’s Vision framework; some see this as “trivial” and perfect for AI-assisted/vibe coding.
  • Initial versions consumed too much CPU; lowering camera resolution and frame rate reportedly cut usage dramatically. Some still find it too heavy to run constantly.
  • Issues with blur not working on certain macOS versions led to forks and a compatibility mode using public APIs.
  • Users request Linux/Windows versions, but lack of a built‑in, robust cross‑platform vision API is seen as the main blocker.
  • Confusion over “Claude Mode Active” led to an explanation: it was from an abandoned experiment where an LLM judged posture from screenshots.

Ergonomics, Posture, and Productivity

  • Mixed views on “good posture”: some see upright posture as protective; others argue there’s no single correct posture and that movement, strength, and comfort matter more than rigid alignment.
  • Many report being most productive while slouching, reclining, or working from bed; a minority say upright/standing correlates with focus.
  • Several describe alternative setups (backless or kneeling chairs, medicine balls, F1‑style recline, adjustable desks, AR/VR headsets) and stress frequent movement, stretching, and/or strength training.
  • Some users with chronic back issues find the blur feedback surprisingly effective and plan to keep using the app, even while admitting it’s mildly infuriating because it reveals how quickly they start to slouch.