Interface Overview

Return’s interface is built around one idea: your document is always front and center. Everything else slides in when you need it and gets out of the way when you don’t.

The layout

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  TopBar                                                  │
├──────────┬────────────────────────────┬──────────────────┤
│          │                            │                  │
│ Explorer │         Editor             │   Chat Panel     │
│          │                            │                  │
│          ├────────────────────────────┤                  │
│          │   Quick Actions + Omnibox  │                  │
├──────────┴────────────────────────────┴──────────────────┤
│  Status Bar                                              │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

TopBar

The bar at the top shows your document title (click to rename), undo/redo buttons, and a few key actions on the right: the settings gear, the help icon (you’re reading the result), and panel toggles.

Explorer

The left panel lists your documents and folders. Toggle it with Cmd+B. You can drag files from Finder directly into the Explorer to import them.

The Explorer also shows file organization — create folders, move documents, and keep your workspace tidy.

Editor

The center area is where you write. Return uses a markdown WYSIWYG renderer — formatting appears visually, but the underlying file is always clean markdown. Click formatted text to edit its raw syntax.

Documents open as tabs. Switch between them by clicking tabs in the tab bar below the TopBar, or close them with the × button.

Omnibox

The input field at the bottom of the editor area. This is the primary way to interact with Return beyond typing:

• Type a question and press Enter to talk to the AI about your document
• Type / to see available commands like /new, /export, /search, /goto
• Press Cmd+K to focus the Omnibox from anywhere

Think of it as a command line that also speaks natural language.

Quick Actions

Just above the Omnibox, you’ll see a row of buttons — these are your Returns (AI analysis templates). Click one to run it against your current document or selection. Results appear as annotations, highlights, or in the Chat panel.

See also: Composing Returns — chain several Returns into a single Quick Action.

Chat Panel

The right panel shows your AI conversation. Toggle it with Cmd+Shift+B. Each document has its own chat history, so switching documents also switches the conversation.

When AI suggests changes to your document, they appear both in chat and as highlighted staged edits in the editor.

Annotations Indicator

Between the editor and the Omnibox, a small indicator shows how many annotations are on the current document. Click it to jump between annotations.

Putting it together

The typical workflow: write in the Editor, ask questions or give instructions via the Omnibox, review AI responses in Chat, and accept or reject changes in the Editor. The Explorer and Settings are there when you need them, hidden when you don’t.