fix: recorder widget doesn't hide when not in use (#100)

speaktype/App/AppDelegate.swift

@@ -17,9 +17,19 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate {
 
     func applicationDidFinishLaunching(_ notification: Notification) {
         miniRecorderController = MiniRecorderWindowController()
-        // Show the always-present resting pill so the recorder lives on screen.
+        // Prepare the resting pill. It stays hidden until recording unless the
+        // user opts into always showing it (issue #100).
         miniRecorderController?.showIdleRecorder()
 
+        // React to the "always show recorder pill" toggle at runtime.
+        NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
+            forName: .recorderIdleVisibilityChanged,
+            object: nil,
+            queue: .main
+        ) { [weak self] _ in
+            self?.miniRecorderController?.applyIdleVisibilityPreference()
+        }
+
         // Only show the Dock icon while the dashboard is actually open; otherwise
         // live quietly in the menu bar.
         observeWindowsForDockIcon()

speaktype/Constants/Shortcuts+Extensions.swift

@@ -11,4 +11,7 @@ extension Notification.Name {
     static let recordingStartRequested = Notification.Name("recordingStartRequested")
     static let recordingStopRequested = Notification.Name("recordingStopRequested")
     static let recordingCancelRequested = Notification.Name("recordingCancelRequested")
+    /// Posted when the "always show recorder pill" preference changes so the
+    /// window controller can show/hide the idle pill immediately.
+    static let recorderIdleVisibilityChanged = Notification.Name("recorderIdleVisibilityChanged")
 }

speaktype/Controllers/MiniRecorderWindowController.swift

@@ -9,8 +9,15 @@ class MiniRecorderWindowController: NSObject {
         UserDefaults.standard.object(forKey: "restoreClipboardAfterAutoPaste") as? Bool ?? true
     }
 
-    /// Show the always-present resting pill. Called once at launch; the pill then
-    /// lives on screen and morphs into the recording HUD on demand.
+    /// When on, the resting pill stays on screen even when idle. Default off:
+    /// the recorder appears only while dictating and hides afterward (issue #100).
+    private var alwaysShowIdlePill: Bool {
+        UserDefaults.standard.bool(forKey: "alwaysShowRecorderPill")
+    }
+
+    /// Prepare the resting pill. Called once at launch. When "always show" is on
+    /// the pill lives on screen and morphs into the recording HUD; when off it
+    /// stays hidden until recording starts.
     func showIdleRecorder() {
         if panel == nil {
             setupPanel()
@@ -22,11 +29,31 @@ class MiniRecorderWindowController: NSObject {
         // behind it so the transparent window never blocks the desktop or dock.
         panel.ignoresMouseEvents = true
 
-        if !panel.isVisible {
+        if alwaysShowIdlePill, !panel.isVisible {
             panel.orderFrontRegardless()
         }
     }
 
+    /// React to the "always show recorder pill" preference changing at runtime.
+    func applyIdleVisibilityPreference() {
+        if panel == nil {
+            setupPanel()
+        }
+        guard let panel = panel else { return }
+
+        if alwaysShowIdlePill {
+            centerPanel()
+            panel.ignoresMouseEvents = true
+            if !panel.isVisible {
+                panel.orderFrontRegardless()
+            }
+        } else if panel.ignoresMouseEvents {
+            // Only hide when idle — during an active session the panel is
+            // interactive (ignoresMouseEvents == false), so leave it alone.
+            panel.orderOut(nil)
+        }
+    }
+
     // Start recording - show panel and begin recording
     func startRecording() {
         // Capture previous app to restore focus later
@@ -68,9 +95,14 @@ class MiniRecorderWindowController: NSObject {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Return the pill to its passive resting state without hiding it.
+    /// Return the pill to its passive resting state. When "always show" is off
+    /// (the default) this hides the recorder so it only appears while dictating.
     private func returnToIdle() {
-        panel?.ignoresMouseEvents = true
+        guard let panel = panel else { return }
+        panel.ignoresMouseEvents = true
+        if !alwaysShowIdlePill {
+            panel.orderOut(nil)
+        }
     }
 
     // Stop recording - trigger transcription and paste

speaktype/Views/Screens/Settings/SettingsView.swift

@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ struct GeneralSettingsTab: View {
     @AppStorage("restoreClipboardAfterAutoPaste") private var restoreClipboardAfterAutoPaste =
         true
     @AppStorage("showMenuBarIcon") private var showMenuBarIcon: Bool = true
+    @AppStorage("alwaysShowRecorderPill") private var alwaysShowRecorderPill: Bool = false
     @AppStorage("transcriptionLanguage") private var transcriptionLanguage: String = "auto"
     @AppStorage("recentTranscriptionLanguages") private var recentLanguagesString: String = ""
     @AppStorage("enableAutoEdit") private var enableAutoEdit: Bool = false
@@ -230,6 +231,29 @@ struct GeneralSettingsTab: View {
                             .font(Typography.captionSmall)
                             .foregroundStyle(Color.textMuted)
                         }
+
+                        VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 6) {
+                            HStack {
+                                Text("Always show recorder pill")
+                                    .font(Typography.bodyMedium)
+                                    .foregroundStyle(Color.textPrimary)
+                                Spacer()
+                                Toggle("", isOn: $alwaysShowRecorderPill)
+                                    .labelsHidden()
+                                    .onChange(of: alwaysShowRecorderPill) {
+                                        NotificationCenter.default.post(
+                                            name: .recorderIdleVisibilityChanged, object: nil)
+                                    }
+                            }
+
+                            Text(
+                                alwaysShowRecorderPill
+                                    ? "The small floating recorder stays on screen even when you're not dictating."
+                                    : "The floating recorder appears only while you're dictating and hides when idle."
+                            )
+                            .font(Typography.captionSmall)
+                            .foregroundStyle(Color.textMuted)
+                        }
                     }
                 }