Port Killer
2025shippedmacOS menu bar app to view and kill dev server ports with one click.
// GitHub
// Problem
Port 3000 in use. The fix requires memorizing lsof commands, finding PIDs, and running kill -9. Existing solutions were bloated Electron apps or terminal gymnastics.
// Solution
A single-purpose menu bar utility: see your dev ports, kill them with one click. 2.5MB binary, always accessible, no terminal required.
// What I Built
A Tauri 2.0 macOS app with React frontend and Rust backend. System tray icon shows active dev ports with process names. One-click kill button for each. Optional main window adds search and filtering. Auto-refresh keeps the list current.
// Technologies
Tauri 2.0
Rust-based desktop framework compiling to 2.5MB native binaries with system tray support.
Rust
Executes lsof for port scanning and kill for process termination.
React + TypeScript
Frontend with custom usePorts hook and auto-refresh logic.
Tailwind CSS
Styling for port list and status indicators.
macOS Native Commands
lsof and kill wrapped in a friendly UI.
// Lessons Learned
- 01Tauri's 2.5MB footprint makes single-purpose utilities practical where Electron's 150MB wouldn't be justified.
- 02Well-scoped problems are perfect for AI-assisted coding. This took 30 minutes because the requirements were unambiguous.
- 03Build tools that solve your own annoyances. I was asking AI to run lsof for me multiple times a day.
- 04Menu bar apps have high utility-to-complexity ratio. Always accessible, never in the way.