Ambient Context is a macOS menu bar app that keeps a written record of what you worked on. It reads the text of your focused window every few seconds through the Accessibility API and writes plain markdown, one file per day, into a folder you choose. Point Claude Code or anything with file access at the folder and ask "what did I work on Tuesday?" or have it build memory about your projects. The folder contains an AGENTS.md explaining the format to the model.

The app uses no screenshots, video, or OCR. It reads text through the accessibility API only, with nothing leaving your machine. No account, no server, no telemetry, no bundled model. Requires macOS 14+ on Apple Silicon. Built by dragthelake and shared on GitHub for potential usefulness.

To build: git clone, npm install, npm run tauri build. First run requires granting Accessibility permission. Password managers and private browsing windows are never captured. Files are plain markdown with date, time blocks, and document paths. Right-click the menu bar icon for today's file, folder access, and settings.