The idea of a tiny computer living beside my MacBook’s camera is enough to get my attention. Giving it somewhere to hold files, control music and keep an eye on coding agents makes the idea considerably more interesting.
That is the pitch behind Gobbl, a free, open-source Mac app from Xeve. Its resident pet, Gob, reacts to what you are doing while the notch opens into a panel of everyday tools.
My initial take is simple: the file shelf and agent controls are the features with the clearest purpose. The pet gives them personality.
This is a first look based on Gobbl’s published features and developer-provided screenshots. I have not tested the Mac app yet.
Somewhere to put that file for a minute
Of everything on Gobbl’s feature list, the Shelf is what I would try first.
Drag a file onto the notch and Gob eats it. You can then drag it into another app, AirDrop it or share it. The website also lists file tools for compression, conversion, background removal and extracting text.
Think about attaching a screenshot to an email while juggling a browser and Finder. A temporary holding area at the top of the screen makes sense for that sort of small, repetitive job.
I like the simplicity of the idea. Its usefulness would depend on how reliably it handles dragging between apps, which matters more in daily use than a long feature list.
There is also searchable clipboard history with pinned items, music controls and a calendar panel with meeting links. According to Xeve, clipboard items copied from password managers are excluded.
The coding-agent panel caught my attention
Gobbl’s integration with Claude Code and Codex is a more specific reason to care about another Mac utility.
The app shows agent activity in the notch, with Gob reacting as work progresses. Claude Code permission requests can appear with Allow and Deny controls, which could save a trip back to the terminal when a task needs attention.
There is an important distinction here. Xeve lists status updates and completion celebrations for Codex, while the approval controls are for Claude Code. If Gobbl is closed, or a Claude Code request goes unanswered for 30 seconds, the request falls back to the terminal.
For someone running an agent while working in another window, this looks like a sensible place to surface progress. I would want to see whether the panel provides enough context to make an informed approval, especially for commands that need a closer look.
Dictation has an appealing starting point
Gobbl uses the right Option key for writing and dictation. Holding it activates speech input, with Whisper processing the audio on the Mac.
Xeve lists no dictation word cap and no account requirement. Dictation needs Apple silicon, although the wider app supports Macs running macOS 14 Sonoma or later. Macs without a notch, including external displays, get a small pill at the top of the screen.
The distinction I would pay attention to is the optional Polish with AI setting. Audio stays on the Mac, but enabling that feature sends the transcribed text to the AI service.
For me, recognition accuracy with names, punctuation and everyday background noise would decide whether this becomes a useful habit. Those details need testing before I would recommend it as a replacement for an existing dictation app.
The small tools may get the most use
Gobbl also places a focus timer, keep-awake switch, microphone mute button, colour picker and screen-text tool in the notch. None of these features is unusual on its own, but bringing them together could reduce the number of single-purpose utilities sitting in the menu bar.
I can see the focus timer and keep-awake controls being useful. The real test is whether opening the notch feels quicker than using keyboard shortcuts or the Control Centre.
Memory is where I would slow down
Gobbl also has an optional Memory feature, currently in beta. It reads screen text, builds a searchable record and identifies possible to-dos. Xeve says it can mark tasks complete when it finds supporting evidence, with an Undo option.
That is an ambitious addition to a notch app.
The privacy details deserve a proper read. Memory is stored locally, but masked text snippets can be sent to Xeve’s AI service to identify tasks and create digests. Writing and chat features also send relevant text and context. Xeve says requests go through OpenRouter with data collection disabled, and the app keeps a local log of AI requests.
I appreciate having that distinction documented. I would start with the Shelf, music controls and agent panel, then decide whether Memory solves a problem worth enabling it for.
Is Gobbl worth a look?
Gobbl has an appealing combination: a playful interface wrapped around practical Mac shortcuts. The Shelf and coding-agent panel give me the strongest reasons to try it.
The pricing needs one qualification. The app is free, and Xeve says AI features are free during the beta but will move to a paid plan later. Optional contributions currently unlock no extra features.
My main question is whether so many features can remain comfortable inside one small panel. That will take daily use to answer. As a first look, though, Gobbl has more substance than its cute mascot might suggest.
You can download Gobbl from Xeve or inspect its source on GitHub.
Sources: Gobbl product page; Gobbl FAQ; Gobbl privacy documentation.
