Native macOS app for pair, mob, and ensemble programming

Keep every driver rotation on time.

Track the roster, show the current driver and navigator, rotate roles automatically, and keep the countdown visible without interrupting the session.

View latest release See how it works
  • macOS 14+
  • Apple silicon
  • MIT licensed
  • No account
  • Data stays local

Release trust note: the current v0.3.0 artifact is arm64-only, its app is ad-hoc signed rather than Developer ID signed, and its outer DMG is unsigned. Its exact browser-downloaded bytes and quarantined first-launch path were qualified on Apple silicon.

MobCrew main window showing a 4 minute 43 second timer, Driver Alice, Navigator Bob, and a four-person roster
Main-window timer, current roles, and active roster.

A shared rhythm without meeting overhead

Set the roster. Start the timer. Rotate together.

Mob programming puts the whole team on one problem. MobCrew handles the visible rotation so the team can stay focused on the work.

  1. Build the crew

    Add, bench, reorder, or shuffle participants. MobCrew assigns the current Driver and Navigator from the active roster.

  2. Keep time visible

    Run a configurable turn timer in the main window or the always-on-top floating panel while everyone works.

  3. Rotate and recover

    Advance roles automatically or skip on demand, with a configurable in-window Take Break or Skip Break choice after a chosen number of turns. Running, paused, and pending-break sessions restore after relaunch, reconciling elapsed time for active countdowns.

Built for the flow of a real session

The rotation stays visible everywhere it matters.

Configurable turn timer

Choose the duration, pause or reset as needed, and optionally receive a notification when the turn completes.

Roster and bench

Keep active and benched participants together, with drag-and-drop ordering and clear Driver/Navigator roles.

Automatic role rotation

Advance the roster when time expires or skip manually, keeping the next Driver and Navigator predictable.

Floating timer

A compact always-on-top panel carries the countdown and roles into the editor, terminal, or shared screen.

Break cadence

After a configurable number of turns, the main window switches to a visible break screen where the team can take or skip the break.

Fixed shortcuts and menu bar

Use menu-bar controls or press ⌘⇧L to toggle the floating timer from another app without Accessibility access.

Current real-app captures

Select any screenshot to open its full-resolution file. These captures show only the visible state described below.

Compact MobCrew floating panel showing 4 minutes 34 seconds, Driver Alice, and Navigator Bob

Floating panel

The compact roles and countdown panel by itself. This capture does not demonstrate its position over another app.

MobCrew main window displaying an in-window Break Time screen with 2 minutes 35 seconds remaining

In-window break

Once taken, the pausable break countdown replaces the main window content; the visible title bar confirms it is not a full-screen overlay.

MobCrew General settings showing Launch at Login, Turn duration, Notifications, and Show Tips controls

General settings

Launch at login, turn duration, notifications, and optional programming tips, with current macOS status and recovery links for login and notification access. Shortcuts are listed separately.

Install and first run

From release page to running timer.

  1. 1

    Download the DMG from the latest GitHub release.

  2. 2

    Open it, copy MobCrew to Applications, eject the DMG, then open MobCrew from Applications.

  3. 3

    If macOS blocks this known download because it cannot verify the developer, review the message in System Settings → Privacy & Security and choose Open Anyway only for the release you intended to download.

Read the detailed installation and permission guidance

Permissions, privacy, and support

Know what MobCrew asks for—and what it does not.

Does the global shortcut need Accessibility access?

No. The fixed global shortcut ⌘⇧L uses macOS Carbon hotkey registration to toggle the floating timer from another app without requesting Accessibility access.

Are notifications required?

No. MobCrew asks when you first start the timer and uses permission only for optional turn and break alerts. The timer continues if access is denied, and alerts can be disabled in General settings, which also reports macOS authorization status and links to System Settings when access is denied.

Where does the data go?

The current app code has no account, telemetry, or network service. Roster, settings, and current session state stay in local macOS user defaults, and active names are also written to MobCrew's local Application Support folder.

How do updates and support work?

MobCrew has no in-app updater. Replace the copy in Applications with a newer release. For help or bug reports, use GitHub Issues.

Do I need Xcode or a specific Mac architecture?

Xcode is only for development; installing a release requires macOS 14 or later. The current v0.3.0 release contains an Apple-silicon (arm64) executable only; it does not include an Intel (x86_64) executable. Future artifacts are qualified independently.