Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about AirTower.
Is AirTower free?
Yes, AirTower is completely free and open source under the MIT license.
Which macOS versions are supported?
AirTower requires macOS 13 (Ventura) or later. It's optimized for Apple Silicon but works on Intel Macs too.
Does AirTower modify my git repository?
No. AirTower only reads your repository status using standard git commands. It never modifies any files or runs git commands that change state.
Which terminal apps are supported?
AirTower works with most terminal emulators including Terminal.app, iTerm2, Warp, Ghostty, Alacritty, and Kitty. If your terminal isn't detected, please open an issue on GitHub.
Can I use AirTower with multiple repositories?
AirTower detects the repository based on your active terminal's working directory. When you switch between terminal windows or change directories, AirTower automatically updates to show the relevant repository's status.
Does AirTower work with private repositories?
Yes, AirTower works with any git repository on your local machine, including private repos. It uses your existing git configuration and credentials.
How much battery does AirTower use?
AirTower is designed to be lightweight. The default polling interval is 2 seconds, but you can increase it in .airtower.json to reduce resource usage. AirTower also pauses polling when the terminal is inactive.
Can I customize the panel appearance?
The panel uses a translucent dark theme that matches macOS design conventions. Position and size can be adjusted by dragging. Additional customization options are planned for future releases.
Does AirTower send any data to external servers?
No. AirTower runs entirely on your local machine and never sends data anywhere. It only reads your local git repositories and configuration files.
Does AirTower work with git worktrees?
Yes! AirTower fully supports git worktrees. It correctly detects the repository root and shows status for whichever worktree your terminal is currently in.
Does AirTower support SSH remotes?
Yes. AirTower works with any git remote protocol including HTTPS, SSH, and local paths. The ahead/behind counts work as long as you have fetched from the remote.
How do I hide the floating panel temporarily?
Click the AirTower icon in the menu bar to toggle the panel visibility. You can also use the keyboard shortcut (configurable in System Settings) or quit the app entirely with ⌘Q when the panel is focused.
Why does AirTower need Accessibility permissions?
Accessibility permissions allow AirTower to detect which terminal window is active and read its current working directory. This is how AirTower knows which repository to show status for. Without this permission, AirTower cannot track your terminal.
Can I customize which files are tracked?
AirTower respects your .gitignore file. Any files ignored by git won't show up in the untracked or modified counts. For additional customization, you can configure which status elements to display via .airtower.json.
Does AirTower support git submodules?
Yes! When a repository has submodules, AirTower shows a submodule badge indicating how many submodules exist and their status (in sync, modified, or not initialized).
What about Git LFS?
AirTower detects LFS-enabled repositories and shows an LFS badge with the count of tracked LFS files. If you have large files that should be tracked by LFS but aren't, AirTower will alert you.
How do I report bugs or request features?
Visit the GitHub Issues page to report bugs, request features, or contribute to the project.
Still have questions?
If your question isn't answered here, feel free to start a discussion on GitHub or check the troubleshooting guide.