GoldenChaos-BTT: The complete Touch Bar UI replacement

[GoldenChaos]

@liamb I'm going through various popular mail clients now that I know how to do generic UI scripting and adding support slowly. I'll make sure to get Outlook @Harrumph is it really that easy?!

Also, I think I've fixed the calendar widget issues; the command the output widgets were running contained an option that limited the output to a single item, which is why only the first one was showing up. I've uploaded a new experimental version, please give it a shot lots of other fixes, too!

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.553-2 changelog:

• Fixed issue where expanded calendar widget would only display one event
• Added very early Browser Tabs widget, doesn't do much yet
• Brightness controls now also raise/lower brightness of external displays at the same time (let me know what you think of this behavior; extends to external keyboards as well)
• Fixed spacing/padding of everything across the entire preset, much better now
• Reorganized button groups to make them easier to manage/add in the future
• Changed a few buttons into scripts in preparation for making them conditional (eg True Tone)

Look how nice the padding is now! No more overflow.

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.553-2

[GoldenChaos]

New version!

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.555 changelog:

• Fixed spacing/padding issues on BTT alpha 2.555
• Adjusted sizing of weather icons and text placement
• Fixed rounded corner UI on expanded weather widget
• Today's High Temperature now actually shows the high temperature
• Added Unread Mail widget for Outlook
• iTunes Now Playing widget will now output the default icon if it can't get album artwork
• Disabled VLC by default again because it still keeps opening, geez
• More general nipping and tucking

Check it out:

Side note: It's clear after some testing that there is a bug causing the emoji and app switcher widgets to always be 0 width on import - @Andreas_Hegenberg could this be fixed soon?

I feel like we're getting close to a stable version!

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.555

[GoldenChaos]

New version! Tiny one.

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.557 changelog:

• Set calendar and reminders widgets to refresh more often since they don't require the apps being open
• Due Today widget finally displays the correct reminder (or nothing if there is nothing due today)
• Fixed some missing value issues with GC-BTT 2.555
• New icon for Connect to AirPods button, turns blue when connected
• Bluetooth Toggle script now works with no extra utilities, turns icon red when off (uses system prefs to get status, still better than installing a helper imho)

Also, I haven't tested it but I think the emoji/app switcher import bugs were fixed in BTT 2.557

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.557

[GoldenChaos]

New version with my first pass at Safari Tabs! @chrisparker No Airmail or all-day events yet - Airmail is giving me some trouble since it doesn't provide seemingly any way to identify unread mail (ugh), and when I enable all-day events in iCalBuddy it seems to just output nothing. Looks like these two features will take some more time, haha.

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.557-2 changelog:

• New Browser Tabs widget enabled by default
  • Button appears if you have at least 2 open tabs in Safari (Chrome support coming soon)
  • Browser Tabs view shows up to ten tabs plus browser controls
  • No favicons yet, but each tab has a nice numbered icon in the meantime
  • Tap on any tab in the Touch Bar to go to that tab in Safari
  • Known issue: Last tab will not have properly rounded corners
• Microphone mute button moved to right side of Touch Bar

Screenshots:

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.557-2

[GoldenChaos]

Alright, last new version for the day (I swear)! Please use this one with 2.557 since 2.559 is quirky. If you accidentally upgraded you can download 2.557 from here: https://bettertouchtool.net/releases/btt2.557_alpha.zip

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.557-3 changelog:

• Added Google Chrome support to Browser Tabs widget
• Chrome tabs will appear before Safari tabs if both are open
• Added Unread Mail support for Spark
  • NOTE: Spark must have at least one window open (minimized or hidden is okay) for the script to work
• Unread Mail for Astro now returns the correct number of unread emails
  • NOTE: Astro must have at least one window open (minimized or hidden is okay) for the script to work

Screenshots:

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.557-3

[GoldenChaos]

Here's the fixed release!

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.557-4 changelog:

• Removed unwanted keyboard shortcuts that appeared for some reason
• Multi-account support for Outlook Unread Mail widget
• Fixed an issue where Astro Unread Mail widget would return missing value
• Added roundy corner end-caps to browser tab groups
• Added some padding to browser tab buttons for legibility

Screenshots:

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.557-4

[GoldenChaos]

New version! Probably one of the biggest yet, a lot going on here. I definitely feel like this is the best version of GC-BTT to date

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.561 changelog:

• Fixed padding/spacing for BTT alpha 2.561 (hooooly crap that took a long time, please don't change this again unless you add batch editing controls @Andreas_Hegenberg )
• All-new Bluetooth Toggle button
• All-new Connect AirPods button
  • Looks for wireless headphones with "AirPods" in the name
  • Added tap again to disconnect
• Added Connect Beats button
  • Looks for wireless headphones with "Beats" in the name
  • Tap again to disconnect
• Added Connect Gamepad button
  • Looks for the following controllers in order: SteelSeries Nimbus, Hori Gamepad, Nintendo Switch controllers (Pro Controller/Joy-Cons), Wii Remotes
  • Tap again to disconnect
• Swapped brightness and volume control positions, added Mute button to option menu (thanks for the suggestion, @whitehusky!)
• Changed back/forward keys to use cmd+arrows instead of brackets
• Fixed an issue where the Reminders widget would not output anything
• Fixed an issue where the Safari Now Playing widget would always be shown
• Removed back arrow from Emoji widget
• Weather widget now shows correct current temperature
• Weather widget now shows correct high and low temperatures for the day
• Pre-emptively added activated icons for True Tone and Night Shift, will make these work in an upcoming release along with Do Not Disturb and possibly Dark Mode
• Various other small bug fixes and improvements

Screenshots:

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.561-2

Enjoy, everyone!

EDIT: Found a bug, fixed it, updated to 2.561-2

[GoldenChaos]

New version with fixes!

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.561-3 changelog:

• Date/Time widget will now auto-set the time based on your system settings
• Fixed an issue where Safari/Chrome Now Playing widgets would only appear if YouTube was playing in the first tab
• Updated Safari and Chrome Now Playing icons with little YouTube logos in the bottom right corner
• Fixed Tap to Disconnect not working on various bluetooth widgets

Still working on the new AirPod connect script, this is only slightly more complicated than I thought since to disconnect it has to use the Bluetooth menu but to connect it has to use the Volume menu. Anyways, I should have that working by tomorrow along with enhanced toggle appearances for option menu buttons

Screenshots:

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.561-3

[GoldenChaos]

New version! Last one for today, fixing up final bits before the stable release later this week.

@myhouseblewup Two things I found out: (1) it's not possible to tell the UI to click an item in the volume menu bar but turns out it doesn't matter because (2) the original script does work, haha, turns out pairing is just very, very slow and can take multiple attempts. But... that's just the case normally. So just press the button again if they didn't connect. So much for that fancy W1 chip ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Still trying to figure out how to detect True Tone/Night Shift, but that might not be possible without launching system prefs.

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.561-4 changelog:

• Dark Mode and Do Not Disturb toggle buttons now turn purple when activated
• Mute button now turns red when system is muted
• Added Airmail Unread Mail widget
• Unread Mail widgets all now use the dock badge values to determine whether or not to appear (and display the dock badge value if it exists)
  • You can customize the value your Unread Mail widget displays by changing your mail app's badge settings
  • Any other apps people want to display unread badges for? Now it's possible, so please suggest some!
  • EDIT: HOLY BKLSDFBD GONNA DO MESSAGES BRB

Screenshots:

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.561-4

[GoldenChaos]

Actual last new version for the day, I think I've knocked off everything that's been reported now

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.561-5 changelog:

• Fixed an issue where Spark Unread Mail would open Astro
• Added Unread Messages widget
  • Checks the dock badge of Messages.app
• Added standalone play/pause button for YouTube
  • Only appears when no media players are running and Safari or Chrome is watching a YouTube video

Screenshots:

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.561-5

Now I'm off to bed. Night folks please report issues and I'll get to 'em in the morning!

EDIT: The dock badge scripts really hammer the dock process, so in the next version I've set the various dock badge widgets to only run if the specified app is also running.

[GoldenChaos]

New version! A dock on your Touch Bar?!

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.563 changelog:

• Unread Mail widgets are now part of the Touch Bar Dock!
• Also, the Dock is now a thing, and it supports a lot of apps
• Dock badges use colors associated with their apps
• Dock badges get number from relevant app's actual dock icon
• Dock badges appear only on the GC-BTT main screen (so you can still use expanded widgets and modifier menus), docked to the left next to fullscreen/esc
• Tap on any dock badge to open its parent app
• Full list of currently supported apps in the Touch Bar Dock:
  • Missed Calls
    • FaceTime
  • Unread Messages
    • iMessage
    • WhatsApp
    • Telegram
    • Skype
    • YakYak
    • Chatty
    • Caprine
    • Goofy
  • Unread Mail
    • Apple Mail
    • Outlook
    • Spark
    • Astro
    • Airmail
    • Boxy
  • Mentions
    • Slack
    • Discord
    • Discord Canary
    • Tweetbot
    • Twitter
  • Notifications
    • Facebook
    • Tumblr

Screenshots:

This isn't new, I just haven't shown off a screenshot of the default set lately and I really like it.

Oh, cool, somebody likes me!

Wow I'm so... POPULAR!!!

Uh okay guys hold on a sec here-

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.563

[GoldenChaos]

New version with some fixes I'd say this is pretty close to the stable release. I haven't encountered any major issues on my machine so far.

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.563-2 changelog:

• Improved browser detection for Show Browser Tabs button
• Added Safari Technology Preview support to Browser Tabs widget
• Added Polymail, Postbox, and Mailplane support to Touch Bar dock

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.563-2

[GoldenChaos]

New version! Wrapping up browser support. If no bugs are found in this version before @Andreas_Hegenberg releases the new stable BTT, then I think this is going to be the stable version. It's definitely RC1 material

EDIT: Oh man I fixed the Now Playing output bug! Now iTunes widgets can display songs even if they have double quotes in them. Updated version to 2.563-4, haha.

If anyone's wondering, I used this code to escape the double quotes:

set aString to trackInfo

set astid to AppleScript's text item delimiters
set AppleScript's text item delimiters to quote
set aString to text items of aString
set AppleScript's text item delimiters to "\\" & quote
set aString to aString as text
set AppleScript's text item delimiters to astid

set trackInfo to aString

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.563-4 changelog:

• Fixed an issue where song titles with double quotes would break the iTunes Now Playing output
• Added Chrome Canary support to Browser Tabs widget
• Added Now Playing support for YouTube as a Fluid app (Try it out! Just create a Fluid app called YouTube )
• Added Twitch support to the Dock

Known issues:

• The Dock currently consumes a lot of energy, but I don't know why

Screenshots:

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.563-4

[GoldenChaos]

New version! Is this version the "Snow Leopard" of GC-BTT? In seriousness, I think I've got performance to an acceptable level. I'm now seeing some of the lowest energy usage from the preset in a long time on my system. Things also just feel much, much snappier as a result.

EDIT: After a few hours monitoring BTT, I'm really happy with the performance of this version. Honestly, if I wasn't the one who made the changes, I would've guessed that I increased the refresh rate of the scripts because of the sheer performance boost.

Please report on how performance of this version is on your machine so I can make final adjustments! Thanks everyone

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.563-5 changelog:

• Added Franz support to the dock
• Added Cisco Jabber support to microphone mute button detection
• Reverted Refresh/New Tab combo button behavior to sidestep UX and performance issues
• Home screen Reminders and Calendar widgets now run every 60 seconds to save on performance
• Minor padding adjustments to Finder, AirDrop, Reminders, Calendar, and Things widgets
• Dock widgets now run every 5 seconds to save on performance
• Default dock widget set reduced to only system apps
  • Dock widgets for 3rd party apps must now be enabled manually
  • Enable badges for as few apps as possible to get the best performance

Possible issues:

• Some lighter-colored dock widgets like FaceTime might have black text instead of white. If so, then that's an import bug @Andreas_Hegenberg

Screenshots:

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.563-5

[GoldenChaos]

New version with Spotify long-press widget! It's a little bit more basic than the iTunes one, but I did leave a bunch of placeholders in the widget for whenever I or someone else is able to get those additional functions working. For now we've got shuffle/repeat and copy track link enjoy @ZucchiniZe

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.563-6 changelog:

• Added long-press widget for Spotify Now Playing with the following added controls:
  • Shuffle
  • Repeat
  • Copy Link to Song
  • Disabled placeholders for Thumbs Up/Down, Add to Library, Favorite, Go to Album, and Go to Artist (not functional)
• Fixed an issue where the Spotify Now Playing formatting would break slightly during advertisements
• Fixed an issue where the Repeat control in the iTunes Now Playing long-press widget would not highlight when activated
• And of course, all the great performance improvements from 2.563-5

Screenshots:

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.563-6

[GoldenChaos]

New version! @Andreas_Hegenberg this version is very, very stable. What version of BTT do you think is going to be the next stable release?

@Randy_Saeks after testing, I can't reproduce your calendar bug. Have you changed it at all?

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.566 changelog:

• Resolved an issue where various widget icons would disappear on BTT restart
• Optimized image sizes, reducing preset's uncompressed file size from 265mb to 22mb (!!)
• Organized widgets a bit since this preset has gotten heug
• Added handoff support to dock widgets
• Added Safari handoff dock widget
• Long press on Next Track button to skip ahead 30 seconds (iTunes only)
• Long press on Previous Track button to rewind 15 seconds (iTunes only)

Screenshots:

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.566

[GoldenChaos]

New version again! Since I had some extra time, I made the volume up button display a dynamic icon it doesn't require any extra scripts since it returns the alternate icons as text in base64. This'll probably be the last update for today, haha.

@TheAnonymous010 that's great news!!

EDIT: Fixed a small bug with the repeat button using my newfound widget updating powers decided to just replace the current version rather than releasing a new one so soon.

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.566-2 changelog:

• Fixed an issue where the iTunes repeat button would not highlight properly
• New Volume Up widget dynamically displays current volume status
• Better Volume Down icon

Screenshots:

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.566-2

[GoldenChaos]

Okay, I lied, I've got one more tiny new version. Couldn't help myself

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.566-3 changelog:

• Volume Up button now turns blue if wireless headphones are connected

Screenshots:

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.566-3

[GoldenChaos]

New version! @Harrumph had an idea that was so good how could I not put out a release at 4am?!

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.566-4 changelog:

• Long-press the fullscreen/esc button for escape only

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.566-4

[GoldenChaos]

Awesome. I've just uploaded GC-BTT 2.600, and I took the liberty of taking some newer screenshots for you to include in the release notes since it's changed visually from 2.536 quite a bit.

GoldenChaos-BTT 2.600 changelog:

• Stable release!
• Added Safari Technology Preview handoff dock widget
• Added Google Chrome handoff dock widget
• Added Chrome Canary handoff dock widget

Screenshots:

Improved UI:

Expanded widgets on long-press:

Emoji and browser tabs:

New modifier key menus:

Download: GoldenChaos-BTT 2.600