Tell the user when Accessibility is missing

Without it the Shift-Shift gestures fail silently, so hiding the panel
left no way to bring it back and the app looked broken. The app now says
so on launch and points at Cmd+Shift+Space, which needs no permission,
and --diag reports the permission state alongside the status item's
placement so a lockout can be diagnosed instead of guessed at.

AGENTS.md

@@ -13,7 +13,13 @@ clicking an item copies it back to the clipboard.
   `NSStatusItem Preferred Position Prompt`). Left click toggles the panel,
   right click shows the menu (accessibility state, launch at login, open data
   folder, quit). Contains the single-instance guard and `LoginItem`
-  (`SMAppService`).
+  (`SMAppService`). Also sets `NSApp.mainMenu` with Hide Panel (Cmd+W) and Quit
+  (Cmd+Q) — an accessory app shows no menu bar, but the main menu still
+  services key equivalents, which is the only way to quit from the keyboard
+  while the panel has focus. `applicationShouldHandleReopen` shows the panel so
+  launching an already-running app does something. Supports `--sync-check` and
+  `--diag` (writes the status item's frame and permission state to
+  `/tmp/prompt-diag.txt`, then exits).
 - `Sources/Prompt/Store.swift` — `@MainActor` `ObservableObject` singleton.
   Data model: `Section` → `[PromptItem]`, item content is
   `.text(String)` or `.image(String)` (filename). Persists to
@@ -40,11 +46,16 @@ clicking an item copies it back to the clipboard.
   a global queue); only the store append hops back to main.
 - `Sources/Prompt/SyncService.swift` — optional sync client. Holds the group
   code and server URL in `UserDefaults` (`sync.code`, `sync.serverURL`,
-  `sync.version`), pushes the whole store as JSON, and polls every 5s.
+  `sync.version`). The URL defaults to `SyncService.defaultServerURL`
+  (`https://prompt.tzgyn.dev`); nothing is sent anywhere until a code exists,
+  because polling only runs when one is set. Pushes the whole store as JSON and
+  polls every 5s.
 - `Server/main.go` — the Go sync backend (single file, `net/http` + `lib/pq`).
-  Also ships `Server/README.md` (self-hosting) and `Server/prompt-sync.service`
+  Also ships `Server/Dockerfile` (static binary on distroless) and
-  (systemd unit). Logs one line per request, creates its schema on startup, and
+  `Server/README.md` (self-hosting). Logs one line per request, creates its
-  shuts down gracefully on SIGTERM so a redeploy cannot cut off a push.
+  schema on startup, shuts down gracefully on SIGTERM so a redeploy cannot cut
+  off a push, and supports `-healthcheck` (pings local `/healthz`) so the
+  shell-less image needs no curl for its Docker `HEALTHCHECK`.
 
 ## Sync protocol
 
@@ -162,7 +173,10 @@ brew upgrade --cask prompt
   the main thread (the hotkey handler already dispatches to a global queue).
 - The double-Shift tap needs Accessibility; without it the event tap silently
   fails and only the Carbon fallbacks work. The panel banner and the status
-  menu both surface the permission state.
+  menu both surface the permission state, and `AppDelegate` shows a launch
+  alert when it is missing — otherwise a user who hides the panel is locked out
+  (no hotkey, no Dock icon) and reports it as "the app won't come back". Check
+  with `Prompt --diag` (`accessibility: false` is the tell).
 - `Info.plist` sets `NSAllowsArbitraryLoads` because the sync server URL is
   user-supplied and is often plain HTTP (LAN address, self-hosted box). ATS
   would otherwise block it with a confusing error.

README.md

@@ -32,10 +32,11 @@ to your work. Click anything to copy it back to your clipboard.
 | Close panel | Esc |
 
 Double-Shift gestures require **Accessibility access** (Prompt reads the
-selection by simulating Cmd+C, then restores your clipboard untouched). The
+selection by simulating Cmd+C, then restores your clipboard untouched). Until
-Cmd+Shift fallbacks work without it. Bare keys like Space and Cmd+C are
+it is granted, use Cmd+Shift+Space and Cmd+Shift+C, or click the menu bar icon
-deliberately not bound inside the panel so they never conflict with typing in
+— and launching the app again always brings the panel back. Bare keys like
-the composer.
+Space and Cmd+C are deliberately not bound inside the panel so they never
+conflict with typing in the composer.
 
 ## Install
 
@@ -58,15 +59,20 @@ PROMPT_SYNC_DATABASE_URL="postgres://localhost:5432/prompt_sync?sslmode=disable"
   go run .          # listens on :8080
 ```
 
-Then in the panel: click the sync icon, set the server URL (e.g.
+Or build the Docker image (`docker build -t prompt-sync Server/`) and point it
-`http://192.168.1.10:8080` or an HTTPS host), and either **Generate Code** on
+at your own Postgres — see [Server/README.md](Server/README.md) for that and for
-the first Mac or paste the code into **Join** on the other.
+deploying to a host.
+
+Then in the panel: click the sync icon (or Cmd+,), confirm the server URL, and
+either **Generate Code** on the first Mac or paste the code into **Join** on the
+other.
 
 Notes:
 
-- Both Macs must be able to reach the server. A LAN address or a Tailscale
+- Sync defaults to `https://prompt.tzgyn.dev`; change it in the sync panel to
-  hostname works; `localhost` only works if the server runs on the same Mac.
+  point at your own server. Both Macs must be able to reach it — a LAN address
-  See [Server/README.md](Server/README.md) to deploy it on a VPS or home server.
+  or a Tailscale hostname works, and `localhost` only works if the server runs
+  on the same Mac. See [Server/README.md](Server/README.md) to deploy it.
 - Joining a group that already has notes replaces what's on that Mac.
 - The app polls every 5 seconds (a tiny version check) and pushes 1.5s after a
   change; last write wins, and changes that came from the server are not echoed

Server/.dockerignore

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+.git
+prompt-sync
+prompt-sync-*
+*.md

Server/Dockerfile

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# Build stage: the server is pure Go (lib/pq is pure Go), so CGO is off and the
+# result is a static binary that runs on a shell-less base image.
+FROM golang:1.26-alpine AS build
+
+WORKDIR /src
+COPY go.mod go.sum ./
+RUN go mod download
+COPY *.go ./
+
+ARG TARGETOS
+ARG TARGETARCH
+RUN CGO_ENABLED=0 GOOS=${TARGETOS:-linux} GOARCH=${TARGETARCH} \
+    go build -trimpath -ldflags="-s -w" -o /prompt-sync .
+
+# Runtime stage: distroless has no shell, so the binary does its own
+# healthcheck (see -healthcheck in main.go). Runs as non-root.
+FROM gcr.io/distroless/static-debian12:nonroot
+
+COPY --from=build /prompt-sync /prompt-sync
+
+ENV PROMPT_SYNC_ADDR=:8080
+EXPOSE 8080
+
+HEALTHCHECK --interval=30s --timeout=3s --start-period=5s --retries=3 \
+    CMD ["/prompt-sync", "-healthcheck"]
+
+ENTRYPOINT ["/prompt-sync"]

Server/README.md

@@ -26,21 +26,68 @@ PROMPT_SYNC_DATABASE_URL="postgres://localhost:5432/prompt_sync?sslmode=disable"
 
 The schema is created on startup. Every request is logged as
 `METHOD PATH STATUS DURATION`; SIGTERM/SIGINT shut down gracefully so an
-in-flight push is not cut off mid-write.
+in-flight push is not cut off mid-write. If the database is not reachable yet
+it retries five times, 2s apart, before giving up.
 
-## Deploy to a Linux host
+> **`sslmode` matters.** lib/pq defaults to `sslmode=require`, so a connection
+> string copied from a host that runs Postgres *without* TLS (Coolify's
+> internal Postgres, a plain `docker run postgres`, Homebrew) fails with
+> `pq: SSL is not enabled on the server`. Append `?sslmode=disable` in that
+> case — the server prints exactly that hint when it hits this.
+
+## Deploying with Coolify
+
+Use a Dockerfile application pointed at this repo with base directory `Server/`
+(so Coolify builds `Server/Dockerfile`), expose port `8080`, and set:
+
+| Variable | Value |
+| --- | --- |
+| `PROMPT_SYNC_DATABASE_URL` | your Postgres URL **plus `?sslmode=disable`** |
+| `PROMPT_SYNC_ADDR` | `:8080` (this is already the default) |
+
+Coolify detects the `HEALTHCHECK` in the Dockerfile and runs
+`prompt-sync -healthcheck` with its 5s start period, so the container only goes
+live once `/healthz` answers. It also logs a generic warning that a healthcheck
+needs `curl` or `wget` — that does not apply here, the binary does its own
+check, so there is no reason to add either to the image (it is distroless and
+has no shell).
+
+## Run with Docker
+
+The image is a static binary on `distroless` (non-root, no shell), so its
+`HEALTHCHECK` calls `prompt-sync -healthcheck`, which pings the local
+`/healthz` — no curl needed in the image. That is what `docker ps` reports as
+the container health.
 
 ```bash
-# from the repo root, on the Mac
+docker build -t prompt-sync Server/
-cd Server
+docker run -d --name prompt-sync -p 8080:8080 \
-GOOS=linux GOARCH=arm64 go build -o prompt-sync .    # amd64 for x86 hosts
+  -e PROMPT_SYNC_DATABASE_URL="postgres://user:pass@host:5432/prompt_sync?sslmode=disable" \
-scp prompt-sync <host>:/tmp/ && ssh <host> 'sudo mv /tmp/prompt-sync /usr/local/bin/'
+  prompt-sync
 
-# on the host: create the database and role, then
+docker logs -f prompt-sync         # request log
-sudo cp Server/prompt-sync.service /etc/systemd/system/
+```
-sudo systemctl edit --full prompt-sync   # set PROMPT_SYNC_DATABASE_URL
+
-sudo systemctl enable --now prompt-sync
+Postgres stays outside the container; the server only needs a URL. If Postgres
-journalctl -u prompt-sync -f             # verify it is listening
+runs on the Docker host itself, `host` is `host.docker.internal` on macOS and
+Windows, or the host's LAN address on Linux (`--network host` also works).
+
+## Deploy to a host
+
+Build for the host's architecture and ship the image, or build it on the host
+itself (a `git clone` plus `docker build` is usually simplest):
+
+```bash
+# build on the Mac for a linux/arm64 host, then copy it over
+docker build --platform linux/arm64 -t prompt-sync Server/
+docker save prompt-sync | gzip > prompt-sync.tar.gz
+scp prompt-sync.tar.gz <host>:
+ssh <host> 'gunzip -c prompt-sync.tar.gz | docker load'
+
+ssh <host> 'docker run -d --name prompt-sync --restart unless-stopped \
+  -p 8080:8080 \
+  -e PROMPT_SYNC_DATABASE_URL="postgres://user:pass@db-host:5432/prompt_sync?sslmode=disable" \
+  prompt-sync'
 ```
 
 Put it behind TLS if it is reachable from the internet — the code is the only

Server/main.go

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
 	"regexp"
+	"strings"
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
@@ -48,6 +49,13 @@ type Server struct {
 }
 
 func main() {
+	// -healthcheck pings the local /healthz and exits non-zero on failure. It
+	// exists so the container image can run on a shell-less base (distroless),
+	// where there is no wget or curl for a HEALTHCHECK to use.
+	if len(os.Args) > 1 && os.Args[1] == "-healthcheck" {
+		os.Exit(healthcheck())
+	}
+
 	dsn := os.Getenv("PROMPT_SYNC_DATABASE_URL")
 	if dsn == "" {
 		dsn = "postgres://localhost:5432/prompt_sync?sslmode=disable"
@@ -57,14 +65,11 @@ func main() {
 		addr = ":8080"
 	}
 
-	db, err := sql.Open("postgres", dsn)
+	db, err := openDatabase(dsn)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("open database: %v", err)
+		log.Fatalf("connect to database: %v%s", err, hintFor(err))
 	}
 	defer db.Close()
-	if err := db.Ping(); err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("connect to database: %v", err)
-	}
 	if _, err := db.Exec(schema); err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("ensure schema: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -103,6 +108,63 @@ func main() {
 	}
 }
 
+// openDatabase connects, retrying briefly so a deploy is not marked unhealthy
+// just because Postgres was still starting up.
+func openDatabase(dsn string) (*sql.DB, error) {
+	db, err := sql.Open("postgres", dsn)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var lastErr error
+	for attempt := 1; attempt <= 5; attempt++ {
+		if lastErr = db.Ping(); lastErr == nil {
+			return db, nil
+		}
+		if attempt < 5 {
+			log.Printf("database not ready (attempt %d/5): %v", attempt, lastErr)
+			time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
+		}
+	}
+	db.Close()
+	return nil, lastErr
+}
+
+// hintFor turns the most common connection failure into something actionable.
+// lib/pq defaults to sslmode=require, so any DSN copied from a host that runs
+// Postgres without TLS (Coolify's internal Postgres, docker-compose, Homebrew)
+// fails with a bare "SSL is not enabled on the server".
+func hintFor(err error) string {
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "SSL is not enabled") {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return "\n\nhint: lib/pq defaults to sslmode=require, but that Postgres has TLS off." +
+		"\n      Append ?sslmode=disable to PROMPT_SYNC_DATABASE_URL" +
+		"\n      (e.g. postgres://user:pass@host:5432/prompt_sync?sslmode=disable)."
+}
+
+// healthcheck returns 0 when the local /healthz answers 200.
+func healthcheck() int {
+	addr := os.Getenv("PROMPT_SYNC_ADDR")
+	if addr == "" {
+		addr = ":8080"
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(addr, ":") {
+		addr = "127.0.0.1" + addr
+	}
+	client := &http.Client{Timeout: 3 * time.Second}
+	response, err := client.Get("http://" + addr + "/healthz")
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("healthcheck: %v", err)
+		return 1
+	}
+	defer response.Body.Close()
+	if response.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		log.Printf("healthcheck: unexpected status %d", response.StatusCode)
+		return 1
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
 // withLogging keeps a one-line trail of method, path, status and duration so a
 // self-hosted deployment can be debugged from journalctl or docker logs.
 func withLogging(next http.Handler) http.Handler {

Server/prompt-sync.service

@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-[Unit]
-Description=Prompt sync server
-Documentation=https://gitea.tzgyn.dev/TZGyn/prompt
-After=network-online.target postgresql.service
-Wants=network-online.target
-
-[Service]
-# The binary is built on a Mac with:
-#   GOOS=linux GOARCH=arm64 go build -o prompt-sync .
-ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/prompt-sync
-Environment=PROMPT_SYNC_ADDR=:8080
-Environment=PROMPT_SYNC_DATABASE_URL=postgres://prompt:CHANGE_ME@localhost:5432/prompt_sync?sslmode=disable
-Restart=on-failure
-RestartSec=2
-# The server only needs to talk to Postgres and bind :8080.
-NoNewPrivileges=true
-PrivateTmp=true
-ProtectSystem=strict
-ProtectHome=true
-
-[Install]
-WantedBy=multi-user.target

Sources/Prompt/App.swift

@@ -27,6 +27,18 @@ final class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate {
             return
         }
 
+        // --diag reports where the status item landed. On a notched Mac a
+        // brand-new item can be placed under the notch and be unclickable,
+        // which locks the user out once the panel is hidden.
+        if CommandLine.arguments.contains("--diag") {
+            setupStatusItem()
+            DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 1.0) {
+                self.writeDiagnostics()
+                NSApp.terminate(nil)
+            }
+            return
+        }
+
         // Single instance: stale copies keep their hotkeys alive after an
         // update and eat the events meant for the new instance.
         let myPid = ProcessInfo.processInfo.processIdentifier
@@ -47,6 +59,8 @@ final class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate {
         HotkeyManager.shared.start()
 
         setupStatusItem()
+        setupMainMenu()
+        promptForAccessibilityIfNeeded()
 
         // Show the panel on launch so the app is discoverable (it has no Dock
         // icon and the menu bar icon can be hard to spot on a full bar).
@@ -56,6 +70,94 @@ final class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Without Accessibility the Shift-Shift gestures fail silently, so the
+    /// panel can be hidden with no obvious way back. Say so on launch and
+    /// point at the shortcut that works without the permission.
+    private func promptForAccessibilityIfNeeded() {
+        guard !AXIsProcessTrusted() else { return }
+        let alert = NSAlert()
+        alert.messageText = "Prompt needs Accessibility access"
+        alert.informativeText = """
+        Capturing with Shift-Shift (and showing the panel with right Shift twice) \
+        only works with Accessibility access.
+
+        Until it is granted, use Cmd+Shift+Space to show or hide the panel and \
+        Cmd+Shift+C to capture, or click the menu bar icon.
+        """
+        alert.addButton(withTitle: "Open Settings")
+        alert.addButton(withTitle: "Later")
+        if alert.runModal() == .alertFirstButtonReturn {
+            let options = [kAXTrustedCheckOptionPrompt.takeUnretainedValue(): true] as CFDictionary
+            _ = AXIsProcessTrustedWithOptions(options)
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// A launched-again app must reveal itself. Without this, `open` (or
+    /// clicking it in Finder/Spotlight) hits the running instance, which does
+    /// nothing, so the app looks like it never started.
+    @MainActor
+    func applicationShouldHandleReopen(_ sender: NSApplication, hasVisibleWindows flag: Bool) -> Bool {
+        PanelController.shared.show()
+        return true
+    }
+
+    @MainActor
+    func applicationShouldTerminate(_ sender: NSApplication) -> NSApplication.TerminateReply {
+        // Stop the poll timer, any queued push, the event tap and the Carbon
+        // hotkeys so termination cannot be held up by a live callback.
+        SyncService.shared.stop()
+        HotkeyManager.shared.stop()
+        return .terminateNow
+    }
+
+    /// Accessory apps have no visible menu bar, but the main menu still
+    /// services key equivalents — this is what makes Cmd+Q and Cmd+W work
+    /// while the panel has focus.
+    private func setupMainMenu() {
+        let mainMenu = NSMenu()
+        let appMenuItem = NSMenuItem()
+        mainMenu.addItem(appMenuItem)
+
+        let appMenu = NSMenu()
+        appMenuItem.submenu = appMenu
+
+        let hide = NSMenuItem(title: "Hide Panel", action: #selector(hidePanel), keyEquivalent: "w")
+        hide.target = self
+        appMenu.addItem(hide)
+
+        appMenu.addItem(.separator())
+
+        let quit = NSMenuItem(title: "Quit Prompt", action: #selector(quit), keyEquivalent: "q")
+        quit.target = self
+        appMenu.addItem(quit)
+
+        NSApp.mainMenu = mainMenu
+    }
+
+    @MainActor @objc private func hidePanel() {
+        PanelController.shared.hide()
+    }
+
+    @MainActor
+    private func writeDiagnostics() {
+        var lines = ["Prompt diagnostics", "accessibility: \(AXIsProcessTrusted())"]
+        if let window = statusItem?.button?.window {
+            lines.append("status item frame: \(window.frame)")
+            if let screen = window.screen ?? NSScreen.main {
+                lines.append("screen: \(screen.frame) visible: \(screen.visibleFrame)")
+                lines.append("notch inset: \(screen.safeAreaInsets)")
+                let underNotch = window.frame.maxX > screen.frame.maxX - screen.safeAreaInsets.right
+                lines.append("under the notch: \(underNotch)")
+            }
+        } else {
+            lines.append("status item has no window (not in the menu bar)")
+        }
+        lines.append("preferred position: \(UserDefaults.standard.object(forKey: "NSStatusItem Preferred Position Prompt") ?? "unset")")
+        try? lines.joined(separator: "\n").write(
+            to: URL(fileURLWithPath: "/tmp/prompt-diag.txt"), atomically: true, encoding: .utf8
+        )
+    }
+
     private func setupStatusItem() {
         let item = NSStatusBar.system.statusItem(withLength: NSStatusItem.squareLength)
         item.autosaveName = "Prompt"

Sources/Prompt/HotkeyManager.swift

@@ -34,6 +34,22 @@ final class HotkeyManager {
         registerFallbackHotkeys()
     }
 
+    func stop() {
+        if let tap = eventTap {
+            CGEvent.tapEnable(tap: tap, enable: false)
+            CFMachPortInvalidate(tap)
+        }
+        if let source = runLoopSource {
+            CFRunLoopRemoveSource(CFRunLoopGetMain(), source, .commonModes)
+        }
+        for ref in hotKeyRefs {
+            if let ref { UnregisterEventHotKey(ref) }
+        }
+        hotKeyRefs.removeAll()
+        eventTap = nil
+        runLoopSource = nil
+    }
+
     // MARK: - Double-Shift event tap
 
     private func startEventTap() {

Sources/Prompt/PanelController.swift

@@ -31,12 +31,14 @@ final class PanelController: NSObject {
         }
         NSApp.activate(ignoringOtherApps: true)
         panel.makeKeyAndOrderFront(nil)
+        NSLog("Prompt: panel shown")
         NotificationCenter.default.post(name: .promptPanelDidShow, object: nil)
     }
 
     func hide() {
         panel?.orderOut(nil)
         NSApp.deactivate()
+        NSLog("Prompt: panel hidden (app keeps running for the Shift-Shift hotkeys)")
     }
 
     private func makePanel() -> KeyablePanel {

Sources/Prompt/PanelView.swift

@@ -76,7 +76,8 @@ struct PanelView: View {
             Button { addPhotos() } label: { Image(systemName: "photo.on.rectangle.angled") }
                 .buttonStyle(.plain).foregroundStyle(.secondary).help("Add photos")
             Button { PanelController.shared.hide() } label: { Image(systemName: "xmark") }
-                .buttonStyle(.plain).foregroundStyle(.secondary).help("Close (Esc)")
+                .buttonStyle(.plain).foregroundStyle(.secondary)
+                .help("Hide the panel (Cmd+W) — Prompt keeps running so Shift-Shift capture still works. Quit from the menu bar icon or Cmd+Q.")
         }
         .padding(.horizontal, 12)
         .padding(.vertical, 10)
@@ -86,8 +87,13 @@ struct PanelView: View {
         HStack(spacing: 8) {
             Image(systemName: "exclamationmark.triangle.fill")
                 .foregroundStyle(.yellow)
+            VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 2) {
                 Text("Shift-tap capture needs Accessibility access.")
                     .font(.caption)
+                Text("Meanwhile: Cmd+Shift+Space toggles this panel.")
+                    .font(.caption2)
+                    .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
+            }
             Spacer()
             Button("Grant…") {
                 let options = [kAXTrustedCheckOptionPrompt.takeUnretainedValue(): true] as CFDictionary

Sources/Prompt/SyncService.swift

@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ final class SyncService: ObservableObject {
     private static let urlKey = "sync.serverURL"
     private static let versionKey = "sync.version"
 
+    /// Where sync points unless the user overrides it in the sync panel.
+    static let defaultServerURL = "https://prompt.tzgyn.dev"
+
     private var lastVersion: Int64 {
         get { Int64(defaults.integer(forKey: Self.versionKey)) }
         set { defaults.set(newValue, forKey: Self.versionKey) }
@@ -54,7 +57,7 @@ final class SyncService: ObservableObject {
 
     private init() {
         code = defaults.string(forKey: Self.codeKey)
-        serverURL = defaults.string(forKey: Self.urlKey) ?? "http://localhost:8080"
+        serverURL = defaults.string(forKey: Self.urlKey) ?? Self.defaultServerURL
     }
 
     func start() {
@@ -64,6 +67,14 @@ final class SyncService: ObservableObject {
         restartPolling()
     }
 
+    func stop() {
+        pollTimer?.invalidate()
+        pollTimer = nil
+        pushWork?.cancel()
+        pushWork = nil
+        Store.shared.onDidChange = nil
+    }
+
     // MARK: - Group membership
 
     func generateCode() {