Command guard
Every line is checked before it runs and rated safe, careful or dangerous. Risky commands get a friendly dialog that says in plain words what will happen.
Free & open source · macOS · v0.4
The terminal that
has your back.
Kompass explains every command before it runs, stops the dangerous ones and understands plain English. Made for people who are afraid of the terminal – and for pros who want to move faster.
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Why we build Kompass
The most powerful tool on your Mac shouldn't feel like a minefield.
1
The terminal is scary
A blinking cursor, cryptic commands, no undo. Most people never dare to try – and miss out on how fast and powerful it really is.
2
One typo, gone forever
rm deletes without a Trash. A single > can wipe a file. The classic terminal assumes you already know everything.
3
Kompass changes that
It explains, it protects, it teaches. A real zsh with a friendly co-pilot – and when you have learned enough, it simply gets out of your way.
Our goal: anyone should be able to open a terminal without fear – and enjoy it.
What Kompass does
A real terminal, with a safety net.
rm goes to the Trash
Deleting is never final. Files land in the macOS Trash, and one click on “Undo” puts them back exactly where they were.
Plain language
Type “find all pdf files” – Kompass turns it into the right command, shows it to you and only runs it on your second Enter. English and German.
Live explanations
While you type, a bar below the terminal explains every part of the command – flags, files, pipes and redirects.
Error help
“No such file or directory”? Kompass translates cryptic errors, spots typos and offers the corrected command with one click.
13 learning missions
From “Where am I?” to scripts and pipes: short guided missions that check your real commands and celebrate your progress.
Tabs & shortcuts
⌘T for a new tab in the same folder, ⌘1–9 to jump, ⌘K to clear. Everything you expect from a modern Mac app.
Optional AI
For requests the built-in rules don't know, Kompass can ask Claude – only if you add your own API key. Without it, everything stays on your Mac.
Showcase
Learn by doing – one mission at a time.
Kompass comes with 13 missions in three levels: getting started, intermediate and pro. Each step checks the command you actually ran – no quizzes, no theory, just real practice in a safe playground.
- Pick any mission, in any order
- “Insert” puts the command into the line for you
- Progress is saved, confetti included
For beginners
Learn without fear
- Every command explained before it runs
- Dangerous actions need your OK
- Deleted files can always come back
- Missions that make learning fun
For pros
Move faster
- Your own zsh, your .zshrc, your aliases
- Plain language for the commands you never remember
- Tabs and native shortcuts
- A safety net for those late-night rm -rf moments
Runs 100 % locally on your Mac. No account, no analytics, no tracking. The optional AI only receives your request when you add your own API key.
Download
Get Kompass – it's free.
How to install
- Open the downloaded file and drag Kompass into the Applications folder.
- Start Kompass – it is signed and notarized by Apple, so it opens without any security warning.
✓Signed with an Apple Developer ID and notarized by Apple
SHA-256: 92390d8fb8ae9d4d07c2a26d863f12eb15b090a07fc1da6b3479fdf8ec3f412a
Intel Macs and Windows are not supported yet.
Kompass is freeware
Help keep Kompass alive.
Kompass is and stays free – no ads, no subscription. If it makes the terminal easier for you, a small donation helps the developer keep the project actively maintained and growing.
Secure one-time donation via PayPal.
Questions
Is Kompass really free?
Yes. Kompass is freeware – no trial, no subscription, no ads. Donations are welcome but never required.
Does it replace the macOS Terminal?
It can. Kompass runs a real zsh with your own configuration, so all your commands, aliases and tools work as usual – with explanations and a safety net on top.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. Everything runs locally. Only if you add your own Anthropic API key, requests that the built-in rules don't understand are sent to Claude – together with the folder path and file names of the current folder.
Can I still really delete files?
Yes. The guard dialog has a “Delete permanently” option. By default, though, rm moves files to the Trash so you can always undo.
Is Kompass open source?
Yes. The full source code is on GitHub under the MIT license. Ideas, bug reports and pull requests are very welcome.
Is Kompass safe to install?
Yes. Kompass is signed with an Apple Developer ID and notarized by Apple – macOS checks it before the first start, and it opens without warnings. The full source code is public on GitHub.