macSTT

macSTT is a macOS-native speech-to-text app for dictation. It listens for a configured trigger, captures microphone audio, runs local speech-to-text, and types the final transcript at the current cursor location.

Why It Matters

• Native macOS app instead of a browser-based dictation flow
• Local model lifecycle with visible readiness and download state
• Release pipeline that builds, notarizes, signs, and publishes a DMG

Download

Download the latest macSTT release

Released builds install as a standard .app bundle and support Sparkle-based updates.

Quick Start

1. Download the latest DMG and move macSTT.app to /Applications.
2. Launch the app and grant microphone permission.
3. Grant Accessibility permission so the app can type into other apps.
4. Choose your trigger in Settings and wait for model status to reach Ready.
5. Put the cursor in any app, trigger capture, speak, and let macSTT type the transcript.

Development Requirements

• macOS 15+
• Xcode 16+
• XcodeGen: brew install xcodegen
• Fastlane: brew install fastlane

Development

# Build and run (kills any running instance first)
./run.sh

# Build only
swift build

# Run tests
swift test

Development builds run via swift run rather than a bundled .app.

run.sh will optionally codesign the debug binary if CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY is set:

CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY="Apple Development: Your Name (TEAMID)" ./run.sh

Features like Launch at Login require a bundled .app; in dev mode the control is shown but disabled.

Runtime Notes

• Model status is shown in Settings as Initializing, Checking Models, Downloading Models, Loading Models, Ready, or Error.
• Models are stored under ~/Library/Application Support/macSTT/Models.
• The app needs microphone permission for capture.
• The app needs Accessibility permission to type transcriptions into other apps.

Build a Local App Bundle

# Generate Xcode project + build signed .app
fastlane mac build

Output: build/macSTT.app

This path requires a local DEVELOPMENT_TEAM and a matching Developer ID signing identity. Sparkle is disabled for this local build path by default.

Release Process

# Bump patch version, build, notarize, create DMG, publish to GitHub
fastlane mac release

This flow bumps the version in project.yml, builds a signed .app, notarizes it with Apple, creates a DMG, publishes to GitHub Releases, and updates the Sparkle appcast on the gh-pages branch.

Official release credentials are only needed for this path: DEVELOPMENT_TEAM, FASTLANE_USER, APPLE_ID, FASTLANE_APPLE_APPLICATION_SPECIFIC_PASSWORD, SPARKLE_PUBLIC_ED_KEY

License

Apache 2.0. See LICENSE.