dontallow
Dev tools
macos utility
SHOW HN2026
154points
132comments
#420of 4,366 in 2026
Top 10%of 2026 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
6 positive, 4 neutral or asking, 0 mixed, 2 critical, out of 12 comments about the project. Thread score +0.30.
Idea: 4 for, 0 againstPrivacy: 1 for, 1 againstExecution: 0 for, 1 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
Objections
Some apps like Chromecast, Spotify and games legitimately need local network access.
From 2 comments
> Chromium browsers (Chrome, Brave, Edge, Island, Arc) copy their own app bundle into a random temp folder at launch so the code signature survives in-place updates. macOS keys…
mschuster91 on HNEven for chromecast and spotify I never want or use these features, and if I am not turning such a feature on I never want to be asked about a permission related to it, as a…
johncassil on HN
Auto-dismissing permissions is risky and could break features users want.
From 2 comments
Have a problem with pesky permissions dialogs from sandboxed apps? This unsandboxed unverified app that requests Accessibility permissions, to the rescue!
ShinyLeftPad on HNCan I have the opposite, a tool that automatically clicks on "allow"? I installed the app, it's fine.
InsideOutSanta on HN
Requests
Let the OS offer fake data or a bulk inbox instead of prompts.
From 3 comments
There should be a third option: allow but give fake data And it should be default.
est on HNCan’t we not have some OS level thing which suppresses all intrusive dialog and puts them in a nice inbox so I can decide which I want to answer or ignore in bulk…
anonzzzies on HNPermissions consent prompts are broken. they are far too coarse, and out of context. The customer is forced to consent without knowing the scope or what will break. A better…
tonymet on HN
Questions
Is the popup behaviour tied to Chromium's temp bundle path?
From 1 comment
> Chromium browsers (Chrome, Brave, Edge, Island, Arc) copy their own app bundle into a random temp folder at launch so the code signature survives in-place updates. macOS keys…
mschuster91 on HN
Alternatives named
Hammerspoon scripts or fork-and-automate approaches.
From 2 comments
This is the sort of classic MacOS situation that has mandated the use of Hammerspoon scripts and the like for more than a decade by now (this is not a sectarian point btw,…
dingdingdang on HNI assume that is a quick fork and publish, but seems scary lol
johncassil on HN