Mac power-user toolkit: window management, niche utilities, and the race for pro workflows

Mac power users are chasing pro-grade workflows on ultrawide setups. The big moves? ultrawide window management with BetterDisplay and Rectangle Pro, plus a surge of niche utilities built for speed and automation.^[1]

Ultrawide window management is where the action is. BetterDisplay boosts display clarity and provides DDC controls, while Rectangle Pro offers pixel-perfect layouts and easy drag-to-grid snapping.^[1]

Beyond windows, a slew of lesser-known macOS apps speed up work:

• HoudahSpot — turbocharged file search with templates and instant previews ^[5] • Dropzone 4 — drag-and-drop hub: park files, run actions, trigger workflows ^[5] • Bunch — text-file “workspaces” to launch apps and toggle Do Not Disturb ^[5] • Hammerspoon — Lua-powered macOS automation for hotkeys and displays ^[5] • EagleFiler — archive for PDFs, web pages, mail, and notes ^[5] • Trickster — smart “recent files” drawer ^[5] • Velja — browser picker/rules engine ^[5] • OpenIn — per-app/per-profile link routing ^[5] • Shottr — fast screenshots with scrolling capture and OCR ^[5] • Hookmark — link-everything app for tying files, pages, and more together ^[5]

On the app side, Downie 4 threads through macOS-version questions. A user notes the minimum macOS shifted and mentions depreciation warnings on newer versions, even as the app still runs in some setups.^[4]

For PDF watermarking, the discussion centers on fast, repeatable workflows. WatermarkPDF is mentioned, but users want customizable presets and automation via Alfred.App, Keyboard Maestro, or Automator.^[2]

Revealing hidden files can be as simple as the keyboard shortcut Command-Shift-Period, but some folks want a menu-bar toggle app for easier monthly use.^[3]

All of this points to a growing race for pro workflows on macOS—watch for releases that tighten integration across tools and models.

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