Hello, I’m Tom Bell, a software engineer based in Manchester, UK.
My day job involves building Supercycle with some great folk in York, working mainly with Rails, React, and TypeScript.
Outside work, I build software to make my computer work the way I want. Most of it is for macOS. I like native apps, keyboard-driven workflows, and tools that give me more control over the desktop.
Some of my favourite projects I have worked on:
Conjuror
A native macOS application written in Swift. It is a launcher for opening apps, running Apple Shortcuts, and handling everyday calculations.
I started the project with help from GPT-5.6 Sol. The aim was a small, low-memory launcher that can take the place of tools like Raycast and Spotlight.
Stark Window Manager
A command-line window manager for macOS, with optional automatic tiling. It is built with Swift and uses private macOS frameworks to track applications, displays, Spaces, and windows. A small shell-based command interface controls the daemon.
See the swm documentation.
Stark Key Bind Daemon
A macOS daemon for binding keyboard shortcuts to shell commands. It is built with Swift and uses a macOS event tap to listen for key presses, then runs the matching commands through the user’s shell.
Read the skbd documentation.
Sync the Veil
A competitive card game set in a megacity where technology and magic collide. Players lead rival syndicates, sending operatives into contested parts of the city and shifting between its physical streets and the Veil, the magical reality underneath them.
I’m still developing the game, working on its rules, cards, and world.