VibePad for macOS

VibePad for macOS is a lightweight menu bar application designed to let users control AI coding assistants using a gamepad. Targeted at developers who work with Claude Code and Codex CLI, the tool enables coding and AI chat interactions from a controller, offering an alternative to traditional keyboard input. Its design focuses on allowing users to manage coding workflows while away from their desk, such as from a couch, by leveraging familiar gamepad controls.

The application supports a range of features tailored for productivity and accessibility. Users can accept, cancel, and navigate AI-generated code suggestions, submit prompts, cycle through chat history, and manage conversations without leaving their controller. VibePad includes voice input functionality, activated by holding the L2 button, which enables dictation of prompts and code using a preferred transcription tool. The Smart Paste feature automatically detects clipboard content, pasting images as visual context or text as code, depending on the content type. Mouse and scroll controls are mapped to the right and left sticks, respectively, with adjustable sensitivity and dead zones for analog precision. Navigation between tabs and panels is handled via the D-pad, with an additional layer of app switching and window management accessible by holding the L1 button. Every button on the controller can be remapped through a JSON configuration, allowing for custom layers, shortcut tailoring, and workflow adjustments.

VibePad is compatible with macOS 14 and later, and supports a variety of controllers, including PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, MFi, and generic HID devices. It is built with Swift and is available for download, with its source code hosted on GitHub. The tool is suited for developers seeking to integrate gamepad controls into their AI-assisted coding environments, particularly those using Claude Code or Codex CLI, and offers a customizable, controller-centric approach to coding and AI interaction on macOS.