What Is Bunch.app and What Does It Do?

Updated

Bunch.app is a macOS automation tool that turns plain text files into one-click "context switches." Each Bunch file lists apps to launch and commands to run, and Bunch presents every file in your Bunch Folder as a menu item. It fits you if you repeatedly set up the same working environment—apps, files, websites, system settings—and want to switch between those setups with a couple of keystrokes instead of doing it by hand.

How a Bunch Works

A Bunch is just a plain text file. Each line tells Bunch to perform one task, such as launching an app or changing a system setting. The site's example line looks like this:

Audio Hijack (audio input Scarlett Solo) (do not disturb)

That single line launches Audio Hijack, points its audio input at the Scarlett Solo interface, and enables Do Not Disturb. The site describes the syntax as intuitive and "like AppleScript but way easier."

All Bunches live in a folder called the Bunch Folder. The site's example shows files like Comms.bunch, Code.bunch, and Documentation.bunch. Bunch reads that folder and turns each file into a menu entry, so triggering a context switch is a matter of picking it from the menu.

What Tasks Can a Bunch Perform?

According to the site, a Bunch can:

  • Launch apps
  • Load files
  • Open websites
  • Change settings
  • Run scripts
  • Automate "everything" else you can express as a line in a text file

Because it is plain text, you can edit a Bunch in any text editor, keep it in version control, or copy it between machines.

Example Use Cases

The site lists several concrete scenarios that show the range of the tool:

Scenario What the Bunch does
Screencast prep Hides the Dock, changes wallpaper, hides Desktop icons, hides open windows, loads the screen recording app; on close, quits apps, restores wallpaper, unhides the Dock and Desktop icons
Podcasting Opens recording software, starts a show notes document, sets audio inputs and outputs, pauses backups to save bandwidth, and restores everything when done
Switching coding projects Closes Finder windows, opens the project folder, opens iTerm in the project directory and runs git pull, opens the project in your editor or IDE, and can start a time tracker
Silencing social media A scheduled Bunch closes Twitter and other social apps during set times; toggling the Bunch relaunches them
Web development Opens the project in your editor, starts a local web server, and creates a single-site browser to monitor changes

The pattern across all of these is the same: a Bunch sets up a mode of work, and closing or toggling it can reverse the changes.

Is It Right for You?

Bunch is a good fit if you:

  • Work on a Mac and switch between distinct modes (coding, recording, writing, focused work)
  • Are comfortable editing plain text files
  • Want repeatable environment setup without writing AppleScript or a full automation script

It is a weaker fit if you prefer a graphical rule builder, need automation on Windows or Linux, or only occasionally change your setup—the overhead of writing Bunches pays off with repetition.

The site states that Bunch is free. No pricing tiers, paid plans, or login requirements are mentioned in the available material, so treat those details as unconfirmed and check the site directly if they matter to your decision.

Getting Started

  1. Create a plain text file with a .bunch extension in your Bunch Folder.
  2. Add one task per line—an app name, a file path, a URL, or a setting in parentheses.
  3. Open the Bunch menu and select the file to run it.
  4. Refine the file as you learn the syntax; the site's example Bunches (screencast, podcast, coding, and others) are the fastest reference for line formats.

The main thing to verify as you go is that each line produces the expected result—launch the Bunch and check that apps open, settings change, and closing it restores your previous state where the Bunch is designed to do so.