About
Copy and paste can break even when the visible text looks right. An app may stop publishing RTF, HTML, URLs, file promises, or another representation that a receiving app depends on.
Clip Contract is a local pasteboard regression lab for Mac developers, QA engineers, and support teams. It records the concrete formats an app declares on NSPasteboard, lets you save a known-good baseline, and compares later copies format by format.
TEST A PASTEBOARD CONTRACT
• Copy a representative value from a known-good build
• Save that capture as the contract baseline
• Copy the same test case from a later build
• See exact matches, compatible additions, changed payloads, and missing formats
DEBUG WITH CONCRETE EVIDENCE
• Inspect every declared type identifier for every pasteboard item
• See representation byte counts and the source app recorded with the capture
• Search by content, source application, bundle identifier, or format identifier
• Copy a content-free JSON diagnostic for an issue tracker
SHARE THE CONTRACT, NOT THE CONTENT
The exported diagnostic includes type identifiers, byte counts, source metadata, and comparison status. It does not include clipboard values or local equality digests. Clipboard history and baselines stay on the Mac. Clip Contract has no account, analytics, sync service, or network entitlement.
REPRODUCE THE ORIGINAL COPY
The capture archive also retains the primary text, image, or file reference so you can reproduce a bug. Search, filter, re-copy, or paste as plain text from the menu bar or the resizable Command-Shift-V window.
Clip Contract Free keeps the latest 20 captures and includes contract comparison and diagnostic reports. A one-time Pro purchase unlocks unlimited history and pinned captures.
Getting started
- Copy a representative value from a known-good app build.
- Press ⌘⇧V, select that capture, and choose Set as Contract Baseline.
- Copy the same test case from a later build, then select it and click Inspect to compare every declared representation.
- Use Copy Content-Free JSON Report to attach format evidence to a bug without sharing clipboard values or equality digests.
Free & Pro
Every app is free to use. Pro is a one-time purchase — no subscription.
- Latest 20 captures
- Pasteboard representation inspector
- Known-good baseline comparison
- Content-free JSON reports
- Search by content, source app, bundle ID, or format
- Unlimited capture history
- Pinned captures
Frequently asked questions
How do I test a pasteboard contract?
Copy a representative value from a known-good build, press ⌘⇧V, and set that capture as the contract baseline. After copying the same test case from a later build, select it and click Inspect to see missing, added, changed, and exact representations.
What does a capture retain?
Clip Contract keeps the primary text, image, or file reference for reproduction. Its contract snapshot keeps pasteboard type identifiers, byte counts, local SHA-256 equality digests, item count, and source-app metadata; it does not retain raw secondary representation payloads.
Can a diagnostic report expose clipboard content?
No. The content-free JSON report omits clipboard values and equality digests. It contains only format identifiers, byte counts, source metadata, timestamps, and comparison statuses.
Does Clip Contract send data anywhere?
No. Captures, baselines, and local equality digests stay on this Mac. The app has no account, analytics, sync service, or network entitlement.
Need a hand?
Email me directly and I'll help you out — usually within a day.