What Is the macOS Menu Bar and How Can You Put Script Output in It?

Updated

The macOS menu bar is the horizontal strip at the top of the screen that shows system status and app menus. xbar (the BitBar reboot) lets you place the output of any executable script or program into that menu bar, so you can see information you care about at a glance. You write a plugin in any language, and xbar renders its output in the menu bar. This guide is for macOS users who want a lightweight, always-visible readout of data they already have or can script.

What the menu bar is

The menu bar sits along the top edge of the macOS desktop. It holds the Apple menu and the active app's menus on the left, and status items on the right. xbar adds its own item to that status area, and whatever your script prints becomes the visible label or menu content.

How xbar turns script output into menu bar items

xbar runs your plugin and displays its output in the menu bar. The core idea is simple: any executable script or program can be a plugin, and the output appears in the menu bar. The site describes xbar as putting "the output of any executable script or program into your macOS menu bar," and it explicitly supports writing plugins "in any language."

That means the language choice is yours. A shell script, a Python script, or a compiled program can all feed the menu bar, as long as it produces output xbar can display.

Basic steps to get started

  1. Download xbar for macOS from the xbar site. The site lists a download link and notes the current build as v2.1.7-beta-44-gc3757f5 (updated 05 Aug 24).
  2. Install and launch it. Once running, xbar occupies a spot in the menu bar.
  3. Add a plugin. You can either install one of the hundreds of pre-built plugins or write your own. The site points to a "Writing plugins guide" for authoring your own.
  4. Verify it works. After adding a plugin, check the menu bar for its output. If nothing appears, confirm the script is executable and produces output on its own before involving xbar.

The site does not document specific menu locations or click paths for adding plugins, so rely on the in-app interface and the writing guide rather than a fixed sequence.

Ready-made plugins vs. writing your own

Approach What you get When it fits
Pre-built plugins Hundreds of options across categories like AWS, Cloud, Cryptocurrency, Dev, E-Commerce, Email, Environment, Finance, Games, IoT, Lifestyle, Music, Network, Politics, Science, Sports, System, Time, Tools, Travel, Weather, and Web You want a known readout without writing code
Your own plugin Full control over what appears, in any language You have data or a script that no existing plugin covers

Examples from the plugin directory show the range: a Network Info plugin shows internal and external IPv4+IPv6 addresses, Whois information, and Speedtest.net results; a Battery plugin shows the Bluetooth Trackpad's battery percentage; a Simple RSS reader lists the latest feed items and links to them. These illustrate the pattern: a script gathers data, and xbar surfaces it in the menu bar.

Practical notes

  • Plugins are contributed by community members, and the site credits contributors by name and handle.
  • xbar is MIT licensed, and the project is on GitHub.
  • The site invites sponsorship via GitHub but does not publish pricing details, so treat cost and licensing terms as things to confirm on the project page rather than assume.

If you want a specific piece of information always visible, start by browsing the plugin directory by category. If nothing matches, write a short script that prints what you need and add it as a plugin.