Changelog
Release Notes
What changed in each release.
SpaceAtlas 1.1.4
# SpaceAtlas v1.1.4 - Release Notes
**Release Date:** March 2026
**Platform:** macOS Sequoia 15.0+ (Apple Silicon only)
---
## Headline: Smarter Launch Control & Overlay Arrows
v1.1.4 refines how SpaceAtlas handles app launching and space management. Auto-launch is replaced with an explicit Launch Button for better user control, the overlay gains directional arrows with resize support, and several stability improvements land for dynamic spaces and galaxy navigation.
---
## New Features
### Launch Button (Auto-Launch Removed)
- Automatic application launching has been removed
- A new **Launch** button in the menu bar dropdown gives you explicit control over when apps are launched
- Launch Window is now shown and hidden per space — it appears for any space you've visited where no launch decision has been made yet
### Restart Button in Menu Bar
- Added a **Restart** button directly in the menu bar dropdown for quick app restarts without opening System Settings
### Space Restore
- New option in Advanced Settings: **Space Restore**
- When enabled, returning to a previous space will restore it even if another app is currently active there
- Toggle on/off depending on your workflow preference
### Overlay Directional Arrows
- Navigation arrows are now displayed in the overlay
- Arrows are **resizable** — adjust to your preferred size
- Overlay is now **always visible**, including when you hit a wall (edge of your matrix)
---
## Improvements
### Redesigned Menu Bar Dropdown
- Complete visual redesign of the menu bar dropdown
- Cleaner layout with better grouping of actions
### Dynamic Spaces Persist Through Profile Switches
- Dynamic spaces now remain live and active when switching between profiles
- Previously, dynamic space state was lost on profile changes
### Faster Dynamic Space Updates
- Dynamic space app state now updates after **1 second** on a space (down from 4 seconds)
- Faster responsiveness when landing on a new space
### Shorter Notification Timing
- Launch messages and profile switch notifications reduced from 3.5s to **2 seconds**
- Less time waiting for status banners to clear
### Removed "Move Through Unmapped Spaces"
- Removed the option to navigate through unmapped spaces
- Simplifies navigation behavior and reduces user confusion
---
## Bug Fixes
- Fixed wall detection not triggering correctly
- Fixed dynamic spaces only saving apps on the first visit
- Fixed galaxy getting stuck when its memory was empty
- Fixed scrolling bug in the overlay
- Fixed wall and carousel movement bugs in galaxy spaces
---
## Technical Notes
- Launch lifecycle is now fully user-driven via the Launch Button; no background auto-launch timers
- Space Restore toggle is in Advanced Settings and defaults to off
- Overlay arrow visibility is consistent regardless of navigation outcome (move or wall)
**Release Date:** March 2026
**Platform:** macOS Sequoia 15.0+ (Apple Silicon only)
---
## Headline: Smarter Launch Control & Overlay Arrows
v1.1.4 refines how SpaceAtlas handles app launching and space management. Auto-launch is replaced with an explicit Launch Button for better user control, the overlay gains directional arrows with resize support, and several stability improvements land for dynamic spaces and galaxy navigation.
---
## New Features
### Launch Button (Auto-Launch Removed)
- Automatic application launching has been removed
- A new **Launch** button in the menu bar dropdown gives you explicit control over when apps are launched
- Launch Window is now shown and hidden per space — it appears for any space you've visited where no launch decision has been made yet
### Restart Button in Menu Bar
- Added a **Restart** button directly in the menu bar dropdown for quick app restarts without opening System Settings
### Space Restore
- New option in Advanced Settings: **Space Restore**
- When enabled, returning to a previous space will restore it even if another app is currently active there
- Toggle on/off depending on your workflow preference
### Overlay Directional Arrows
- Navigation arrows are now displayed in the overlay
- Arrows are **resizable** — adjust to your preferred size
- Overlay is now **always visible**, including when you hit a wall (edge of your matrix)
---
## Improvements
### Redesigned Menu Bar Dropdown
- Complete visual redesign of the menu bar dropdown
- Cleaner layout with better grouping of actions
### Dynamic Spaces Persist Through Profile Switches
- Dynamic spaces now remain live and active when switching between profiles
- Previously, dynamic space state was lost on profile changes
### Faster Dynamic Space Updates
- Dynamic space app state now updates after **1 second** on a space (down from 4 seconds)
- Faster responsiveness when landing on a new space
### Shorter Notification Timing
- Launch messages and profile switch notifications reduced from 3.5s to **2 seconds**
- Less time waiting for status banners to clear
### Removed "Move Through Unmapped Spaces"
- Removed the option to navigate through unmapped spaces
- Simplifies navigation behavior and reduces user confusion
---
## Bug Fixes
- Fixed wall detection not triggering correctly
- Fixed dynamic spaces only saving apps on the first visit
- Fixed galaxy getting stuck when its memory was empty
- Fixed scrolling bug in the overlay
- Fixed wall and carousel movement bugs in galaxy spaces
---
## Technical Notes
- Launch lifecycle is now fully user-driven via the Launch Button; no background auto-launch timers
- Space Restore toggle is in Advanced Settings and defaults to off
- Overlay arrow visibility is consistent regardless of navigation outcome (move or wall)
SpaceAtlas 1.1.3
# SpaceAtlas v1.1.3 - Release Notes
**Release Date:** March 2026
**Platform:** macOS Sequoia 15.0+ (Apple Silicon only)
---
## Headline: Virtual Spaces
SpaceAtlas no longer requires multiple macOS desktop spaces. All apps now run on a single desktop space, and SpaceAtlas virtualizes space switching by bringing the correct windows to the front. This eliminates Mission Control animations, removes the 16-space limit, and delivers faster, smoother navigation.
---
## New Features
### Virtual Space System
- Complete architectural shift from macOS desktop space switching to virtual spaces
- All apps live on one macOS desktop space; SpaceAtlas manages window visibility
- Apps are brought to the front when entering a space and hidden when leaving
- Supports up to 99 virtual spaces (up from the previous 16 macOS limit)
### Navigation Buffer
- New buffered navigation system for rapid movement through spaces
- First move is instant; subsequent rapid moves pass through without activating apps
- Configurable buffer delay via slider in Advanced Settings
- Prevents unnecessary app activation during fast navigation sequences
### Hide Apps on Leave
- Toggle to automatically hide apps when leaving a virtual space
- Keeps your workspace clean by only showing apps for the current space
- Configurable per-user in Advanced Settings
### Globe Visualization (Alpha)
- Introduced 3D globe view for space layout visualization
- Early preview — expect refinements in future releases
### Dynamic Space Management
- Add or remove spaces dynamically in both Space-Matrix Mapping and Space-App Mapping tabs
- From Base-16 , supporting up to 99 spaces
- No more fixed grid — scale your workspace as needed
---
## Improvements
### Performance
- App launching moved off the main thread to prevent UI blocking
- Window resizing now occurs on space switch with filtering for improved performance
- Fixed lag when switching spaces and opening apps
- Overlay resizing optimized with event filtering
### App-Space Mapping
- App-Space Mapping is now bound to profiles (previously global)
- Each profile maintains its own app-to-space assignments
### Menu Bar
- Improved menu bar UI and layout
---
## Bug Fixes
- Fixed gateway/profile switch bug where Launch App would trigger for all spaces after every profile switch or gateway jump — now only triggers once per session
- Fixed galaxy navigation bug where moving in and out of a galaxy would land on the wrong space
- Fixed galaxy spaces not being treated as valid spaces for app activation
- Fixed galaxy-space resolution in slot index provider
- Fixed resolved space number not being passed through VirtualSpaceManaging for galaxy-space activation
- Fixed last-focused app tracking
---
## Technical Notes
- Virtual space architecture replaces Mission Control-based space switching
- Mission Control keyboard shortcuts are no longer required for basic operation
- The 16-space macOS limit no longer applies — virtual spaces scale to 99
- Navigation buffer prevents app thrashing during rapid directional input
- App visibility managed via NSRunningApplication hide/unhide APIs
**Release Date:** March 2026
**Platform:** macOS Sequoia 15.0+ (Apple Silicon only)
---
## Headline: Virtual Spaces
SpaceAtlas no longer requires multiple macOS desktop spaces. All apps now run on a single desktop space, and SpaceAtlas virtualizes space switching by bringing the correct windows to the front. This eliminates Mission Control animations, removes the 16-space limit, and delivers faster, smoother navigation.
---
## New Features
### Virtual Space System
- Complete architectural shift from macOS desktop space switching to virtual spaces
- All apps live on one macOS desktop space; SpaceAtlas manages window visibility
- Apps are brought to the front when entering a space and hidden when leaving
- Supports up to 99 virtual spaces (up from the previous 16 macOS limit)
### Navigation Buffer
- New buffered navigation system for rapid movement through spaces
- First move is instant; subsequent rapid moves pass through without activating apps
- Configurable buffer delay via slider in Advanced Settings
- Prevents unnecessary app activation during fast navigation sequences
### Hide Apps on Leave
- Toggle to automatically hide apps when leaving a virtual space
- Keeps your workspace clean by only showing apps for the current space
- Configurable per-user in Advanced Settings
### Globe Visualization (Alpha)
- Introduced 3D globe view for space layout visualization
- Early preview — expect refinements in future releases
### Dynamic Space Management
- Add or remove spaces dynamically in both Space-Matrix Mapping and Space-App Mapping tabs
- From Base-16 , supporting up to 99 spaces
- No more fixed grid — scale your workspace as needed
---
## Improvements
### Performance
- App launching moved off the main thread to prevent UI blocking
- Window resizing now occurs on space switch with filtering for improved performance
- Fixed lag when switching spaces and opening apps
- Overlay resizing optimized with event filtering
### App-Space Mapping
- App-Space Mapping is now bound to profiles (previously global)
- Each profile maintains its own app-to-space assignments
### Menu Bar
- Improved menu bar UI and layout
---
## Bug Fixes
- Fixed gateway/profile switch bug where Launch App would trigger for all spaces after every profile switch or gateway jump — now only triggers once per session
- Fixed galaxy navigation bug where moving in and out of a galaxy would land on the wrong space
- Fixed galaxy spaces not being treated as valid spaces for app activation
- Fixed galaxy-space resolution in slot index provider
- Fixed resolved space number not being passed through VirtualSpaceManaging for galaxy-space activation
- Fixed last-focused app tracking
---
## Technical Notes
- Virtual space architecture replaces Mission Control-based space switching
- Mission Control keyboard shortcuts are no longer required for basic operation
- The 16-space macOS limit no longer applies — virtual spaces scale to 99
- Navigation buffer prevents app thrashing during rapid directional input
- App visibility managed via NSRunningApplication hide/unhide APIs
SpaceAtlas 1.1.2
# SpaceAtlas v1.1.2 - Release Notes
**Release Date:** March 2026
**Platform:** macOS Sequoia 15.0+ (Apple Silicon only)
---
## What is SpaceAtlas?
SpaceAtlas is a macOS space navigation tool that turns your desktop spaces into a 2D grid you can move through with keyboard shortcuts and trackpad gestures. Arrange your windows across macOS spaces once, then navigate between them using directional movement, bookmarks, quick jumps, and portals - all without disabling SIP or installing third-party window managers.
---
## Core Features
### 2D Matrix Navigation
- Navigate macOS desktop spaces (1-16) using a 2D coordinate grid
- Directional movement with Option + Arrow keys (default)
- Carousel wrapping - moving past an edge wraps to the opposite side
- Configurable matrix bounds per profile
### Quick Jumps & Bookmarks
- **Quick Jumps (Command+1–9):** Jump directly to user-configured coordinates
- **Bookmarks (F1-F12):** Save and load viewport positions with custom names
- **Ping-Pong (Command+0):** Toggle between current and previous position
### Wormhole Portals
- Create portal coordinates that teleport the viewport to a destination
- Same-profile wormholes and cross-profile gateways
- Dynamic destinations: Last Active Space, Previous Space
- Animated vortex effect on the overlay indicating destination
### Nexus Hubs (Direction-Aware Portals)
- Configure different destinations based on entry direction (left, right, above, below)
- Per-direction memory remembers return destinations
- Dedicated Nexus Wizard with step-by-step or summary configuration mode
- Visual diagram showing entry directions
### Galaxies (Multi-Cell Entities)
- Create contiguous multi-cell regions with unified behavior
- Six galaxy types: Space, Wormhole, Gateway, Nexus, Last Active Space, Previous Space
- Two modes: Edge (always enter at border) and Memory (remembers internal position)
- Contiguity validation ensures galaxies form connected shapes
---
## Profiles & Configuration
### Profile Management
- Create multiple workspace profiles for different setups
- Auto-load last-used profile on startup
- Duplicate profile name validation
- Import/Export profiles as JSON bundles
### Per-Profile Settings
- Space mapping: coordinate-to-desktop-space assignments
- Space customization: colors (Material Design palette), notes (up to 30 chars), custom images
- Quick jump assignments, bookmarks, wormholes, nexus hubs, and galaxies
- Monitor layout configuration for multi-display setups
---
## Input & Controls
### Keyboard Shortcuts
- Fully customizable via Settings window with recording UI
- Human-readable display with modifier symbols
- All navigation, bookmark, and mode actions are rebindable
### Trackpad Gestures
- 3-finger swipe gestures for directional navigation
- Configurable horizontal and vertical sensitivity
- Minimum swipe threshold detection
- Can be used alongside or instead of keyboard shortcuts
---
## Space-App Mapping
### Intelligent App-to-Space Mapping
- **Auto-Detection Mode:** Learns which apps you use in each space over time
- **Manual Assignment Mode:** Explicitly assign apps to specific spaces
- **Launch Policies:** Never, On Login, or On First Visit (per app)
- Slot system groups similar app combinations into reusable workspace configurations
- Auto-merge for similar slots (85%+ similarity, 3+ confirmations)
- Auto-cleanup removes empty inferred slots after 30 days
- 90-day history retention
- Note: app launching is best-effort - macOS controls final window placement
---
## Overlay & Visualization
### Overlay Window
- Real-time grid visualization of the current space layout
- Viewport highlight showing current position
- Space colors, numbers, notes, and images displayed on cells
- Wormhole/gateway indicators with animated vortex effects
- Nexus direction indicators with multiple art styles (pinwheel, square loop)
- Galaxy visualization
- Configurable: position, size (1-300%), transparency, fade-out mode
### Menu Bar
- Status icon shows current viewport position or grid miniature
- Dropdown with profile name, pause toggle, test mode, settings, and help
- Dark mode support
---
## Settings
### Settings Window Tabs
1. **Account** : Authorization status, trial days remaining, license info, update checks
2. **Space Mapping** : 2D grid editor with right-click context menus for all entity types
3. **Keyboard Shortcuts** : Rebind all actions with recording UI and hover help
4. **Space-App Mapping** : Mode selection, slot management, launch policy configuration
5. **Overlay** : Display mode, position, size, transparency, grid display options, art styles
6. **Advanced** : Timing configuration, log level, gesture sensitivity, instant switching
7. **Import/Export** : Selective export/import of profiles, shortcuts, and settings with conflict handling
---
## Onboarding
### First-Run Experience
- Welcome window introducing SpaceAtlas
- System checks: accessibility permissions, Mission Control shortcuts, display settings
- Interactive step-by-step tutorial with visual highlights and arrow indicators
- Profile creation wizard
- Resumable - restart tutorial anytime from the menu
---
## Licensing & Updates
### Trial & Licensing
- 40-day free trial on first launch
- Email-based license activation with magic code authentication
- Offline grace period for network interruptions
### In-App Updates
- Automatic background update detection (24-hour throttle)
- Semantic versioning comparison
- Download button for signed builds
- Manual refresh available in Account settings
---
## Import & Export
- Export complete settings bundles or selective components (profiles, shortcuts, overlay, advanced, app mapping)
- Import with conflict handling: overwrite, rename, or skip duplicates
- Automatic backup before import
- Bundle versioning for format compatibility
---
## Logging & Diagnostics
- Configurable log levels (Debug, Info, Warning, Error)
- Persistent log files in `~/Library/Logs/SpaceAtlas/`
- Configurable log retention period
- Emoji-based status indicators for quick scanning
---
## System Requirements
- macOS Sequoia 15.0 or later
- Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or later)
- Accessibility permissions (for global keyboard shortcuts)
- Mission Control keyboard shortcuts enabled ("Switch to Desktop 1-16" in System Settings)
- "Displays have separate Spaces" should be OFF for multi-monitor setups
- No SIP disable required - fully SIP-safe
---
## Technical Notes
- SIP-safe architecture: uses CGS private APIs and Mission Control symbolic hotkeys
- No dependency on yabai, Hammerspoon, or any third-party window manager
- Supports up to 16 desktop spaces (macOS keyboard shortcut limit)
- State persistence: auto-saves every 30 seconds and on quit
- Data stored in `~/Library/Application Support/SpaceAtlas/`
- Migrates automatically from legacy MacSpaceManager data on first launch
**Release Date:** March 2026
**Platform:** macOS Sequoia 15.0+ (Apple Silicon only)
---
## What is SpaceAtlas?
SpaceAtlas is a macOS space navigation tool that turns your desktop spaces into a 2D grid you can move through with keyboard shortcuts and trackpad gestures. Arrange your windows across macOS spaces once, then navigate between them using directional movement, bookmarks, quick jumps, and portals - all without disabling SIP or installing third-party window managers.
---
## Core Features
### 2D Matrix Navigation
- Navigate macOS desktop spaces (1-16) using a 2D coordinate grid
- Directional movement with Option + Arrow keys (default)
- Carousel wrapping - moving past an edge wraps to the opposite side
- Configurable matrix bounds per profile
### Quick Jumps & Bookmarks
- **Quick Jumps (Command+1–9):** Jump directly to user-configured coordinates
- **Bookmarks (F1-F12):** Save and load viewport positions with custom names
- **Ping-Pong (Command+0):** Toggle between current and previous position
### Wormhole Portals
- Create portal coordinates that teleport the viewport to a destination
- Same-profile wormholes and cross-profile gateways
- Dynamic destinations: Last Active Space, Previous Space
- Animated vortex effect on the overlay indicating destination
### Nexus Hubs (Direction-Aware Portals)
- Configure different destinations based on entry direction (left, right, above, below)
- Per-direction memory remembers return destinations
- Dedicated Nexus Wizard with step-by-step or summary configuration mode
- Visual diagram showing entry directions
### Galaxies (Multi-Cell Entities)
- Create contiguous multi-cell regions with unified behavior
- Six galaxy types: Space, Wormhole, Gateway, Nexus, Last Active Space, Previous Space
- Two modes: Edge (always enter at border) and Memory (remembers internal position)
- Contiguity validation ensures galaxies form connected shapes
---
## Profiles & Configuration
### Profile Management
- Create multiple workspace profiles for different setups
- Auto-load last-used profile on startup
- Duplicate profile name validation
- Import/Export profiles as JSON bundles
### Per-Profile Settings
- Space mapping: coordinate-to-desktop-space assignments
- Space customization: colors (Material Design palette), notes (up to 30 chars), custom images
- Quick jump assignments, bookmarks, wormholes, nexus hubs, and galaxies
- Monitor layout configuration for multi-display setups
---
## Input & Controls
### Keyboard Shortcuts
- Fully customizable via Settings window with recording UI
- Human-readable display with modifier symbols
- All navigation, bookmark, and mode actions are rebindable
### Trackpad Gestures
- 3-finger swipe gestures for directional navigation
- Configurable horizontal and vertical sensitivity
- Minimum swipe threshold detection
- Can be used alongside or instead of keyboard shortcuts
---
## Space-App Mapping
### Intelligent App-to-Space Mapping
- **Auto-Detection Mode:** Learns which apps you use in each space over time
- **Manual Assignment Mode:** Explicitly assign apps to specific spaces
- **Launch Policies:** Never, On Login, or On First Visit (per app)
- Slot system groups similar app combinations into reusable workspace configurations
- Auto-merge for similar slots (85%+ similarity, 3+ confirmations)
- Auto-cleanup removes empty inferred slots after 30 days
- 90-day history retention
- Note: app launching is best-effort - macOS controls final window placement
---
## Overlay & Visualization
### Overlay Window
- Real-time grid visualization of the current space layout
- Viewport highlight showing current position
- Space colors, numbers, notes, and images displayed on cells
- Wormhole/gateway indicators with animated vortex effects
- Nexus direction indicators with multiple art styles (pinwheel, square loop)
- Galaxy visualization
- Configurable: position, size (1-300%), transparency, fade-out mode
### Menu Bar
- Status icon shows current viewport position or grid miniature
- Dropdown with profile name, pause toggle, test mode, settings, and help
- Dark mode support
---
## Settings
### Settings Window Tabs
1. **Account** : Authorization status, trial days remaining, license info, update checks
2. **Space Mapping** : 2D grid editor with right-click context menus for all entity types
3. **Keyboard Shortcuts** : Rebind all actions with recording UI and hover help
4. **Space-App Mapping** : Mode selection, slot management, launch policy configuration
5. **Overlay** : Display mode, position, size, transparency, grid display options, art styles
6. **Advanced** : Timing configuration, log level, gesture sensitivity, instant switching
7. **Import/Export** : Selective export/import of profiles, shortcuts, and settings with conflict handling
---
## Onboarding
### First-Run Experience
- Welcome window introducing SpaceAtlas
- System checks: accessibility permissions, Mission Control shortcuts, display settings
- Interactive step-by-step tutorial with visual highlights and arrow indicators
- Profile creation wizard
- Resumable - restart tutorial anytime from the menu
---
## Licensing & Updates
### Trial & Licensing
- 40-day free trial on first launch
- Email-based license activation with magic code authentication
- Offline grace period for network interruptions
### In-App Updates
- Automatic background update detection (24-hour throttle)
- Semantic versioning comparison
- Download button for signed builds
- Manual refresh available in Account settings
---
## Import & Export
- Export complete settings bundles or selective components (profiles, shortcuts, overlay, advanced, app mapping)
- Import with conflict handling: overwrite, rename, or skip duplicates
- Automatic backup before import
- Bundle versioning for format compatibility
---
## Logging & Diagnostics
- Configurable log levels (Debug, Info, Warning, Error)
- Persistent log files in `~/Library/Logs/SpaceAtlas/`
- Configurable log retention period
- Emoji-based status indicators for quick scanning
---
## System Requirements
- macOS Sequoia 15.0 or later
- Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or later)
- Accessibility permissions (for global keyboard shortcuts)
- Mission Control keyboard shortcuts enabled ("Switch to Desktop 1-16" in System Settings)
- "Displays have separate Spaces" should be OFF for multi-monitor setups
- No SIP disable required - fully SIP-safe
---
## Technical Notes
- SIP-safe architecture: uses CGS private APIs and Mission Control symbolic hotkeys
- No dependency on yabai, Hammerspoon, or any third-party window manager
- Supports up to 16 desktop spaces (macOS keyboard shortcut limit)
- State persistence: auto-saves every 30 seconds and on quit
- Data stored in `~/Library/Application Support/SpaceAtlas/`
- Migrates automatically from legacy MacSpaceManager data on first launch