How does Qualm block a Shorts feed without blocking a lecture?

It reads the screen as text and asks a System One model one Choice question per user rule, plus a Noul for whether the page is a payment, login or banking screen. Plain code compares each probability against the rule's threshold, so the pop-up appears only for pages that clear it and the site itself is never blocked.

Which models can Qualm run on?

Locally, Kev-4B in 8-bit MLX on an Apple silicon Mac, downloaded once at about 6 GB and needing 6 to 7 GB of free memory, or TypeSafe's hosted Jev with an API key for roughly $1 a month. Jev is chosen in setup and is never a fallback if the local model is down.

What hardware and OS does Qualm need?

Apple silicon only: an M1 or later Mac running macOS 14, with 6 to 7 GB of memory free for the local Kev model. The interface is English, though your rules can be written in any language.

What data leaves my Mac when I use Qualm?

With the local Kev model, nothing leaves the Mac except a daily check for a new version. If you choose the hosted Jev model instead, the text of each new screen is sent to TypeSafe. The update check sends nothing about you or your screen and can be turned off.

How much does the hosted Jev option cost?

The README says a TypeSafe API key costs about $1 a month for the hosted Jev 1.13 route, which checks a screen in about 0.2 seconds versus about 1 second for the local Kev-4B model. Jev is a setup choice, never a silent fallback.

Is Qualm open source, and how do I install it?

It is free software under the GNU GPL v3 or any later version. Download Qualm.dmg from Releases and drag it to Applications; it is not notarized yet, so macOS blocks the first open until you click Open Anyway. From source you clone the repo, `uv sync`, then `uv run qualm setup` and `uv run qualm app`.

How reliable are the published detection numbers?

On 119 trial pages with Kev on the Mac, the short video, feeds, livestream and video rules never stepped in where they should not have, for a precision of 1.00, and 0.88 for social media. The README warns the trial set is easier than real life and points to the manual for caveats.

CommunityJev Integrations & Adapters

Qualm — RoderickQiu

macOS menu bar screen-time app that reads the screen as text through the Accessibility API and asks a System One model one Choice per user rule plus a Noul on whether the page is a payment, login or banking screen, stepping in only when a rule's probability clears its threshold.

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Stars: 4
Language: Python
License: GPL-3.0
Published by: Community
Last verified: Oct 2026

RoderickQiu/qualm

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The first screen-time app built on Kev and Jev. Local-first on Apple silicon for free & privacy. Blocks the mechanism (Shorts, feeds, livestreams), not the site or app.

Forks: 1
Last pushed: Updated Sep 2026

Repo stats from the GitHub API, cached Oct 2026.Homepage

About this project

The first screen-time app built on Kev and Jev. Local-first on Apple silicon Macs. A second thought before the scroll. Qualm reads your screen and steps in when you drift into endless short video, feeds or livestreams, and stays out of the way when you're learning or working. A blocker sees a site. But YouTube is a lecture and a Shorts feed, and Reddit is the thread that fixes your error and r/popular after it. Block the site and you lose the lecture; allow it and you get the feed.

Quoted from the project's README. Read the full README.

Tagscommunity macos digital-wellbeing local-first

Works forJev for Classification Jev for Decision gating

Used inJev for Software & DevTools

Languages: Python
Platforms: macOS
Capabilities: Open sourceRuns locallyRequires API key

Highlights

Runs Kev-4B 8-bit locally through MLX on an M1 or later Mac, about 1 s per check.
With hosted Jev, each check takes about 0.2 s and sends screen text to TypeSafe.
On 119 trial pages, the short-video, feed, livestream and video rules had precision 1.00.
Rules are sentences, not site lists; a Noul guards payment, login and banking screens.
The app downloads the roughly 6 GB local model itself: no Python, no terminal, no account.

Watch out

GPL-3.0 and an early prototype: Apple silicon only, macOS 14+, English interface, and the app is not notarized yet so the first open needs a System Settings override. Jev mode requires a TypeSafe API key and sends each new screen's text to TypeSafe; Jev is chosen in setup and is never a silent fallback.

Questions about this entry

Short answers drawn from the linked project or page.

Reactions & coverage

Posts, threads, and videos about this entry from around the web.

X: Copy and paste, with a decision in between

X: A keystroke oracle that reads intent in ~100 ms

X: Voice-controlled computer use on a Mac

X: A Downloads folder that sorts itself

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Forks and copies of this project in the directory. This entry is the canonical one.

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