I built Quill because I kept nodding along while AI generated code with terms I half-understood. WebSocket,nginx reverse proxy, Docker compose — I'd copy the term, open a browser, google it, get lost in 5 tabs. Or ask the AI in a new thread and lose my flow. Quill sits in your menu bar. Select any term in any app — terminal, IDE, browser — press ⌃⌥Q, and a floating panel appears with an instant explanation. No context switching.
What makes it different:
- Pick your level: ELI5, ELI15, Pro, Code Samples, or Resources
- Drill down: explanations highlight related terms, click to go deeper (like a Wikipedia rabbit hole for tech)
- Works everywhere: system-wide via Accessibility API, not just in one app
- TL;DR + resource links to official docs
- Disk cache so repeated lookups are instant
Uses Gemini Flash by default — you'll need a free API key from Google AI Studio (takes 30 seconds). Also supports Claude API and Claude CLI.
Written in Swift, ~3K LOC, hexagonal architecture. Not sandboxed (Accessibility API requires it) so can't go on the App Store — DMG download and source available.
macOS 14+, Apple Silicon or Intel.Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47106795
Points: 1
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