ORTU: Turning Clipboard History Into a Workspace
Most clipboard managers solve one problem well: they remember what you copied.
But after a few weeks, that history becomes noise.
As a developer and heavy clipboard user, I kept running into the same friction:
- Hundreds of copied items
- No real structure
- Hard to reuse anything meaningfully
That gap is what led to ORTU.
What ORTU Actually Does
ORTU is a clipboard manager designed around organization and reuse, not just storage.
Instead of treating every copied item the same, ORTU helps you structure your clipboard data intentionally.
Core Features
-
Automatic grouping
ORTU detects copied content types and groups them automatically, reducing manual effort and clutter. -
User-created groups
You’re not locked into auto rules. Create your own groups and organize items the way you work. -
Two-window workflow
- A main window to manage, search, and organize clipboard data
- A lightweight popup for fast access, similar to native clipboard UX but more capable
-
Deep search at scale
Designed for users who copy frequently — code snippets, shell commands, URLs, notes — and need to find them later. -
Export, backup, and portability
Clipboard data isn’t trapped. You can export and back up your groups, making your clipboard a reusable, portable asset.
Why ORTU Is Different From Existing Clipboard Managers
Most clipboard tools optimize for history length.
ORTU optimizes for long-term usefulness.
| Typical Clipboard Manager | ORTU |
|---|---|
| Flat list of copied items | Structured groups |
| Mostly automatic | Auto + manual control |
| Short-lived history | Reusable data |
| Becomes cluttered over time | Designed to stay organized |
| Heavy or feature-bloated | Lightweight and focused |
ORTU is built using Tauri + Rust, keeping it fast, lightweight, and efficient without unnecessary background overhead.
Who ORTU Is For
ORTU is especially useful if you:
- Copy code, commands, or structured text daily
- Reuse links, snippets, or notes across projects
- Want control over how clipboard data is organized
- Prefer tools that stay out of the way but scale with usage
If your clipboard feels more like a dumping ground than a tool, ORTU is built to change that.
Current Status
- ✅ macOS — available now
- 🚧 Windows & Linux — in progress
- 🧩 Open source and evolving based on real usage and feedback
Try ORTU
- Website: https://ortu-app.netlify.app
- GitHub: https://github.com/abhijith-p-subash/ortu
ORTU treats clipboard history as something worth organizing — not just something to scroll through.