Who runs Sanomono

Sanomono is a quiet argument against app overload. The name borrows sano from the Spanish sano — healthy, sound, whole — and marries it with mono, the Japanese word for thing. A healthy thing. That’s the bar.

“Less clutter. Better software.” is the tagline because both halves matter. Less clutter happens when you stop collecting software you’ll never open. Better software happens when you choose with care. The two ideas tighten each other.

The list

This catalog holds 636 entries. That is not a small number on its own, but it is small for a whole ecosystem. Each program earned its place by being genuinely useful, well-made, and free of dark patterns.

Getting onto the list is not a formal submission process. I add something when I’ve used it enough to trust it. I watch how it behaves over time. I note whether the developer fixes bugs without breaking things. I pay attention to how the installer acts, whether it respects your Library folder, and whether the uninstall is clean.

What keeps a program off the list:

• Bundled junk in the installer
• Nag screens or upsell popups that interrupt work
• Poorly labeled telemetry
• Subscription-only pricing with no lasting value
• Abandonware that breaks on current macOS with no sign of repair

A program that is simply old is not disqualified. Plenty of older software runs perfectly and does one job without bloat. Those are some of my favorite entries. For every program that has moved on, I keep older builds listed where they still serve people on older Macs.

How I write the pages

Each entry tells you version, file size, macOS compatibility, and install notes. I don’t rewrite the developer’s feature list. I tell you what the program actually feels like to use, what it’s good for, and where it falls short. You won’t find star ratings or comparison tables. Just a short, plain assessment.

Using the site

You can browse the whole catalog without an account. Sections are straightforward: Mac Apps, Video Downloaders, Games, Mac Cleaners, CAD & 3D, VST Plugins, macOS, Audio, Office. Click a section and scroll.

If you want to keep track of things, a free account gives you three tools:

• Favorites. Save programs you want to remember. Your list lives on your account page, away from the noise of a browser bookmark bar.
• Update notifications. When a program you’ve saved gets a new version, the site lets you know. The notification appears on the site itself — not in your inbox.
• Comments. You can leave a note on any program page. Every comment is moderated before it goes public. You’ll see your own comment right away, marked “awaiting moderation.”

There is no newsletter. No marketing email. No ads. The only mail you might get from this domain is a personal reply if you write first.

Who the site is for

Sanomono is for people who are tired of sifting through app directories that list everything. It’s for someone setting up a new Mac who wants a shortlist of honest picks. It’s for the person who still uses a ten-year-old iMac and needs to know which build still runs. It’s for the minimalist who keeps a dock with six icons and wants each one to pull its weight.

I run this catalog because I believe most people need fewer apps, chosen more carefully. My own desktop is empty. I don’t think that makes me special. I think it makes me less distracted.

My name is Kenji Sato-Miller. I grew up between Osaka and Portland. That dual sense of order — Japanese economy and Pacific Northwest directness — shapes how I look at software. If you want to reach me, write to [email protected].