UpdateBar

Trusted updates, one place.

Every tool.
One update away.

See what is ready to update in one native macOS dashboard. Choose a few tools or update all, review commands that need approval, and follow every result. The menu bar and CLI share the same local registry.

Install UpdateBar See how it works
  • macOS 13+
  • Native Swift
  • Signed & notarized
  • No telemetry
Ready to update, selected updates, and a completed batch in the native Items dashboard. Example tools and versions.

Get it running

One command.
Everything current.

Install the signed macOS app and bundled CLI with Homebrew. No account or telemetry.

Install with Homebrew
brew install --cask sonim1/tap/updatebar-app
Install with AI

Paste this prompt into a coding agent with terminal access.

Install UpdateBar on this machine using the official instructions:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sonim1/UpdateBar/main/docs/install.md

Check the OS, architecture, and existing installation first. On supported Macs, prefer the app with its bundled CLI; use the CLI-only path on Linux. If this machine is unsupported, explain the options before proceeding.

Preserve existing configuration. Verify installation with updatebar --version and updatebar doctor. Report the results and any steps that still need my input. Do not approve recipes or update tracked tools.
Latest release ↗ CLI-only formula ↗

Update developer tools from one trusted place.

Choose the native app or the deterministic command line. Both keep the same approval boundary.

macOS app

For developers who want updates visible.

See tools grouped by readiness, select what to update, and review exact command access in a native Dashboard.

Explore UpdateBar for macOS CLI and agents

For workflows that need deterministic output.

Validate recipe data and use stable JSON or JSONL without handing approval to an agent.

Explore the CLI workflow

The flow

From scattered tools
to one clear queue.

01

Scan

Discover supported local tools without changing your UpdateBar state.

02

Review

Compare versions and approve exact command fields only when required.

03

Update

Choose ready tools, update all eligible tools, or update visible search results from Items.

Built around trust

One update layer.
No hidden decisions.

UpdateBar stays deterministic: it shows state, gates commands, and records outcomes.

One registry

Track different tool ecosystems together.

Homebrew, npm, GitHub releases, files, and custom recipes share one clear status model.

Explicit trust

Commands run only after exact approval.

Imported and discovered command fields stay gated, and edits invalidate their fingerprints.

Native where it matters

Keep daily updates in the menu bar.

Open Items from the menu bar. Ready, review, attention, current, and paused groups show what needs your next action.

CLI when you need it

Script the same deterministic core.

Stable JSON and JSONL contracts work from terminals, scripts, and external agents.

Explicit approval. No telemetry.

UpdateBar runs a command only while its exact fingerprint is approved. Approved commands are not sandboxed and still run with your user privileges.

Read the security model

Frequently asked questions

Can I update only selected tools?

Yes. Select cards in Ready to update and choose Update selected. With no selection, Update all runs eligible tools. A search changes the action to Update visible and clears the previous selection.

What does UpdateBar update?

It tracks Homebrew, npm, GitHub releases, files, and custom recipes that you add to its local registry.

Does UpdateBar run commands automatically?

No. Update commands run only after their exact command fingerprints have been explicitly approved.

Are approved commands sandboxed?

No. Approved commands run with your user privileges, an allowlisted environment, and time and output limits.

Does UpdateBar collect telemetry?

No telemetry is collected by the UpdateBar app or CLI. These websites use cookie-free Cloudflare Web Analytics to understand visits and referring sites. Read about website privacy.

Can I use UpdateBar from the terminal?

Yes. The bundled CLI provides human output plus stable JSON and JSONL interfaces for scripts and external agents.