Getting started
This guide takes you from a downloaded release to the first useful overview.
Requirements
- macOS 26 or newer
- An Apple-silicon Mac for the current downloadable release
- Existing local provider or coding-agent data for the integrations you want to see
To build instead of downloading, you also need Xcode 26 and Swift 6.2 or newer.
1. Install the app
Download the latest release, move Vibe Bar.app to /Applications, and launch it. See Installation for Gatekeeper and update details.
2. Open the menu-bar dashboard
Select the Vibe Bar status item in the macOS menu bar. The overview brings quota forecasts, cost summaries, model rankings, and service status into one surface.
Vibe Bar reads supported local inputs and refreshes provider data without turning stale data into a successful update. When a provider refresh fails, the error remains visible and the last known good snapshot can still be inspected.
3. Connect your providers
Open Settings and run the connection check for every core provider you use. Auto is the recommended source mode:
- Codex and Claude can reuse local CLI credentials and optional Web sessions.
- Gemini live quota needs imported
gemini.google.comcookies. - AntiGravity needs its local language server running.
- Grok can reuse
~/.grok/auth.jsonfromgrok login.
Enable and configure any additional plans from the Misc provider list. Never paste a token or cookie anywhere except the matching secure settings field.
4. Choose your preferred density
Use the normal popover for the complete overview. Open the mini window when you want active quota windows to remain visible on a second display or above a full-screen workspace.
The mini window has two layouts:
- Regular keeps the larger gauge treatment.
- Compact shows the same quota model in a much smaller footprint.
5. Review settings
Settings let you:
- display percentages as Remaining or Used;
- refresh on a timer or when the popover opens;
- set an open-refresh cooldown;
- launch Vibe Bar at login;
- control provider visibility and ordering;
- configure local cost-data retention or clear derived cost data.
The defaults are Remaining, a 10-minute scheduled refresh, Regular popover density, and unlimited history retention. Popover-open refresh, launch at login, and Privacy Mode are off.