National Machine
An independent software workshop

Smart software,
built with care.

National Machine builds native apps for Mac, iPhone, and iPad that are fast and private. No accounts to start, no tracking, a cloud only when you need one, and AI is always opt-in.

Meet the apps About the workshop

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The aviary

Four birds, so far.

Each app is small, opinionated, and built for one job.

Unit 01 — Vireo

An inbox you can think in.

macOS 14+ · Apple Silicon

A fast, simplified, private mail client. Fast local search, screening that puts real people first, workflows on autopilot, and optional AI with a provider you choose.

  • Fast local full-text search
  • Mail from people, not machinery — is:human
  • Local MCP server: let Claude run your inbox
Explore Vireo →
Unit 02 — Shrike

The missing link in your creative workflow.

macOS 14+ · Apple Silicon

A fast, native RAW culler with a catalog that never loses track of a file. Browse, rate, rename, and organize thousands of frames as fast as you can press the keys.

  • First view of a 5,000-photo folder in under a second
  • A catalog that survives drives, moves, and offline volumes
  • MCP server built in: let your agent assist with importing existing projects, tagging, and organizing
Explore Shrike →
Unit 03 — Bellbird

Find your pitch. Keep your rhythm.

macOS + iOS

A tuner, metronome, and chord library for guitar, ukulele, and 5-string banjo. A little less setup, a little more playing.

  • Chromatic tuning with clear pitch feedback
  • Tap tempo, subdivisions, and beat accents
  • Mac DMG direct from this site; iPhone and iPad on the App Store
Explore Bellbird →
Unit 04 — Wren

A little list. A lighter day.

Web + iOS

A shopping list for the whole household. One list per store, shared live with the people you shop with.

  • Buy it once, and it clears from every list it's on
  • Works with bad signal, with Undo for everything
  • No ads. No tracking.
Explore Wren →
House rules

Every app shares a spine.

Bolted to the side of everything that leaves the shop:

National Machine · Serial Plate
Trackers 0 — no ads, no analytics, nothing phoning home
Your data Local first — it lives on your disk; a cloud only when you invite one
Build Native — built for the devices you use
AI Optional — where AI is offered, it is always opt-in, never assumed

Great tools,
sharpened weekly.

Small tools, built with care and improved with your feedback.

See the apps Get in touch