Thinking Crutch
Download for Mac

A place to keep thinking with AI

Conversations wander.Keep the thread.

Talk through a question. Keep a judgment. Revisit it when new information arrives. Thinking Crutch connects your conversation to a Canvas that can keep evolving.

Download for MacWatch the demo

Currently supports Codex only. Install Codex and sign in with a subscription that includes Codex.

The workbench / In motionAn interactive product example

A vague goal becomes a question you can explore.

Goal
Design a workshop where everyone participates.
Question
How can first-time attendees feel comfortable speaking?

Unanswered

Exploring the question
Conversation
How can first-time attendees feel comfortable speaking?

I want to run a workshop that first-time attendees can join in.

Let’s look at the opening. Speaking to the whole room could be a high barrier.

Illustrative demo · Switch moments or keep the idea to continue

Three moves in thinking

Every sentence need not stay.

Keep what you can build on: a question, a judgment, and the reasons that could change it.

Put the question in view

A question buried in conversation becomes something you can keep exploring on the Canvas.

Question
How can first-time attendees feel comfortable speaking?

Unanswered

Keep judgments open

AI proposes changes. You decide what to apply. New information can revise an earlier judgment.

IdeaModified
Write individually first, discuss in pairs, then share with the room.

Come back. Continue.

Start a fresh conversation. The Canvas keeps your reasons and open questions ready for the next round.

Question
How will we know everyone actually participated?

Unanswered

Did that hit home?

Download Thinking Crutch

Free. Your canvases stay on your computer.

  • Free
  • Stays on your Mac
  • Signed by Apple

macOS

Signed and notarized by Apple, so it opens with a double-click.

Download for Mac

macOS 12 or later, Apple Silicon and Intel.

Windows

A Windows version is on its way.

Coming soon

Before you start

  • macOS 12 or later, on Apple Silicon or Intel.
  • Currently supports Codex only. Install Codex and sign in with a subscription that includes Codex.

Get started

About five minutes from download to your first canvas.

  1. Install the app

    Download Thinking Crutch for Mac and open it. An empty Canvas is waiting with one Goal card.

  2. Prepare Codex

    Currently supports Codex only. Install Codex and sign in with a subscription that includes Codex.

  3. Start thinking

    Talk through what you want to understand. The conversation turns goals, questions and ideas into a visible Canvas as you work.

    “Help me think through this goal.”

  4. Apply what counts

    Every proposed change waits on the Canvas until you Apply it. Reject what doesn't belong.

Questions

What people ask before they try it.

Where are my canvases stored?

Canvas and conversation are stored locally. When you use AI, relevant context is sent to Codex. The app automatically collects activation, Canvas-open and change-application signals, without Canvas or conversation text.

Does it cost anything?

Thinking Crutch is free. AI uses the quota of your signed-in Codex subscription.

Do I need another AI app?

Currently supports Codex only. Install Codex and sign in with a subscription that includes Codex.

Can the conversation change my Canvas on its own?

No. It proposes; nothing counts until you Apply it.

Does my thinking leave this computer?

When you use AI, relevant Canvas and conversation context is sent to Codex to generate a response. Canvas files are stored locally.

Is there a Windows or Linux version?

Not yet. Mac comes first.

How do I reach you?

Write to us. Where you got stuck is the most useful thing to tell us.

A product still taking shape

Tell us what you think.

What helped, what felt confusing, or what was missing? Your feedback shapes what we improve next.