Does ClipHistory store my code in the cloud?

No. ClipHistory is 100% local—your code never leaves your Mac. All AI transforms run locally using your own API keys from providers like OpenAI or Anthropic. You maintain full control and privacy.

How many code clips can I save?

You can save up to 150 unpinned clips in your history, plus unlimited pinned clips. This means you can keep frequently-used code snippets permanently while your recent clipboard history stays organized and searchable.

Do I need a subscription to use AI transforms?

No. ClipHistory costs $19.99 as a one-time lifetime license—never a subscription. For AI, you bring your own API key from providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, or DeepSeek, so you only pay for what you use.

Can I use ClipHistory on iOS, iPad, or Windows?

ClipHistory is macOS only. It's a universal binary that works on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. If you need clipboard management on other platforms, you may want to explore alternatives, but for Mac users seeking a powerful, privacy-first solution, ClipHistory is purpose-built.

How to Extract Variable Names from Copied Code on Mac Using AI

As a developer on macOS, you've probably copied snippets of code countless times—hunting through files, refactoring legacy projects, or reviewing pull requests. One frustrating task that eats up time is manually identifying and extracting variable names from code blocks, especially when working across multiple files or languages.

If you're copying code regularly and need to quickly analyze variable names, function parameters, or class properties, there's a smarter way. ClipHistory, a clipboard manager for macOS with built-in AI transforms, can help you automate this workflow entirely.

Why Extracting Variable Names Matters

When refactoring code, documenting APIs, or integrating third-party libraries, understanding the variable structure is essential. You might need to:

Create documentation that lists all variables and their purposes
Rename variables across a codebase while understanding naming conventions
Extract function signatures to build interface definitions
Audit legacy code to understand data flow and dependencies

Doing this manually—copying code, pasting into a text editor, then manually listing out variables—wastes precious development time.

The Traditional Workflow vs. AI-Powered Extraction

Without automation:

Copy code snippet from IDE
Paste into text editor or terminal
Manually read through and list variable names
Format the list for use elsewhere
Repeat for each code block

This process is error-prone and repetitive. Worse, if you're working with multiple snippets across a project, you're constantly switching contexts.

With ClipHistory's AI transforms:

Copy code as usual (⌘C)
Open ClipHistory (⌘⇧V)
Select the code clip
Apply an AI transform: "Extract all variable names and list them"
Get instant results, formatted and ready to use

How ClipHistory Handles Code Analysis

ClipHistory's clipboard manager automatically detects when you copy code and stores it in your clipboard history (up to 150 unpinned clips, plus unlimited pinned clips). Each code snippet is tagged, searchable, and ready for transformation.

Once you've copied code, open ClipHistory with ⌘⇧V and you'll see your clip. From there, you can apply AI transforms. Here's what makes this powerful:

AI Transform Capabilities

ClipHistory integrates with five major AI providers:

Anthropic Claude (excellent at code analysis)
OpenAI GPT (strong language understanding)
DeepSeek (cost-effective code parsing)
Google Gemini (multimodal capabilities)
Custom API (bring your own key)

You bring your own API keys, meaning you control costs and never store sensitive code in the cloud. Everything runs 100% locally on your Mac.

Real Example: Extracting Variables from a JavaScript Function

Imagine you copy this:

function calculateDiscount(productPrice, taxRate, memberLevel, discountCode) {
  const baseDiscount = memberLevel === 'premium' ? 0.15 : 0.05;
  const codeDiscount = discountCode ? 0.10 : 0;
  const totalDiscount = baseDiscount + codeDiscount;
  const finalPrice = productPrice * (1 - totalDiscount) * (1 + taxRate);
  return finalPrice;
}

Instead of manually writing "productPrice, taxRate, memberLevel, discountCode, baseDiscount, codeDiscount, totalDiscount, finalPrice," you can ask ClipHistory's AI:

Prompt: "Extract all variable names from this code and format as a comma-separated list."

Result (instant): productPrice, taxRate, memberLevel, discountCode, baseDiscount, codeDiscount, totalDiscount, finalPrice

Or ask for more detail:

Prompt: "List all variables with their scope (parameter vs. local)."

Result:

Parameters: productPrice, taxRate, memberLevel, discountCode
Local variables: baseDiscount, codeDiscount, totalDiscount, finalPrice

Beyond Simple Extraction

ClipHistory's AI transforms go further. You can:

Summarize code logic (understand what a function does without reading line-by-line)
Rewrite code for readability or performance
Clean messy code formatting
Translate code comments between languages
Generate documentation from code snippets

This makes it a powerful tool for code review, onboarding new team members, or simply understanding what a snippet does at a glance.

Why Choose ClipHistory for Code Analysis?

Privacy & Security: Your code never leaves your Mac. No cloud sync, no accounts, no tracking. 100% local processing.

Affordable: One $19.99 lifetime license. No subscriptions, no monthly fees, no recurring charges ever. Use your own API keys for AI, so costs are transparent and under your control.

Built for Developers: Auto-detection means ClipHistory recognizes code instantly. Pinned clips let you save frequently-used snippets indefinitely. Custom boards organize clips by project.

No Lock-in: Universal binary, signed and notarized for security. Works seamlessly on macOS.

Getting Started with Variable Extraction

Install ClipHistory ($19.99 lifetime)
Copy code as you normally would
Press ⌘⇧V to open ClipHistory
Select your code clip
Click "Transform" and write your extraction prompt
Choose your AI provider (bring your own API key)
Get instant results

Get ClipHistory — $19.99 and start automating your code analysis workflow today. No subscription. No cloud. No compromise.