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MiddleDrag VS Code Flex

Compare MiddleDrag VS Code Flex and see what are their differences

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Contents:
  1. ยป Base Details
  2. ยป Videos
  3. ยป Reviews
  4. ยป Alternatives

MiddleDrag logo MiddleDrag

Unlock the hidden power of your trackpad on macOS. Three-finger tap to middle-click, three-finger drag to pan/orbit.

Code Flex logo Code Flex

Flex Your Coding Stats
  • MiddleDrag MiddleDrag UI
    MiddleDrag UI //
    2026-01-22
  • MiddleDrag MiddleDrag Advanced Menu
    MiddleDrag Advanced Menu //
    2026-01-22

MiddleDrag: Three-finger trackpad gestures for middle-click and middle-drag on macOS. Mac trackpads don't have a middle mouse button. Many apps expect one. MiddleDrag fixes this. How it works:

Three-finger tap โ†’ Middle-click Three-finger drag โ†’ Middle-drag (pan/orbit)

Use cases:

Browsers: Open links in new background tabs, close tabs with a click, open bookmarks in new tabs. 3D & CAD Software: Orbit and pan viewports in Blender, Fusion 360, FreeCAD, SketchUp, Maya, OnShape. Essential for apps with broken or missing trackpad support.

Design Tools: Pan canvas in Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator. Navigate large documents in PDF viewers.

Development: Close editor tabs in VS Code and IDEs. Middle-click paste in terminals. Why MiddleDrag?

Existing solutions are either paid (BetterTouchTool $10-24, Middle $8), abandoned (MagicPrefs stopped working years ago), or require terminal configuration (MiddleClick has no GUI).

MiddleDrag is free, open-source (MIT), and actively maintained. Native menu bar app with GUI settings โ€” no terminal required. Key features:

Works alongside Mission Control and other system gestures Configurable sensitivity and smoothing Launch at login support Requires only Accessibility permissions

Technical approach: Uses Apple's MultitouchSupport framework to read raw touch data, allowing three-finger gestures to generate middle-mouse events while leaving system gestures intact. Backs off automatically when four or more fingers are detected.

Install via Homebrew: brew tap nullpointerdepressivedisorder/tap brew install --cask middledrag

Also available via MacPorts.

macOS 15.0+ required. Works with built-in MacBook trackpads and Magic Trackpads.

Not present

MiddleDrag

Website
middledrag.app
$ Details
Platforms
MacOS Mac
Release Date
2025 November
Edit details

Code Flex

Website
codeflex.pages.dev
$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
-
Edit details

MiddleDrag features and specs

  • Three-finger tap
    Tap with three fingers to trigger a middle mouse click
  • Three-finger drag
    Drag with three fingers to perform middle-drag for panning and orbiting
  • System gesture compatibility
    Works alongside Mission Control, Exposรฉ, and other macOS gestures
  • Drag sensitivity
    Adjustable cursor speed during drag operations
  • Homebrew installation
    brew install --cask middledrag via custom tap
  • MacPorts installation
    sudo port install MiddleDrag
  • Lightweight Resource usage
    Minimal CPU and memory footprint

Code Flex features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Code Flex offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of coding, making it accessible even for beginners.
  • Versatility
    Supports multiple programming languages, allowing developers to work on different projects without needing multiple tools.
  • Collaboration Features
    Enables real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on the same codebase simultaneously, which is ideal for team projects.
  • Cloud-Based
    Being cloud-based, Code Flex allows users to access their work from any device with an internet connection, promoting work flexibility.

Possible disadvantages of Code Flex

  • Performance Issues
    May experience lag or slow performance, especially for large projects or when many users are collaborating at once.
  • Limited Offline Access
    Relies heavily on internet connectivity, which can be a drawback in environments with unstable internet access.
  • Subscription Costs
    Premium features might be locked behind a paywall, requiring ongoing subscription fees which could be a barrier for some users.
  • Learning Curve
    While designed to be user-friendly, some advanced features may require additional time to learn and master, particularly for beginners.

Analysis of MiddleDrag

Overall verdict

  • I don't have verified information about MiddleDrag (middledrag.app) since it appears to be a niche or lesser-known application that isn't well-documented in my training data. I can't confirm its features, reliability, or user satisfaction with confidence.

Why this product is good

  • Unable to verify specific features or capabilities of this product
  • No confirmed user reviews or ratings available in my knowledge base
  • Cannot confirm pricing, security practices, or company legitimacy

Recommended for

  • Users should visit the official website directly and check recent reviews
  • Consider checking app stores, Reddit, or Trustpilot for real user feedback
  • Verify the developer's reputation and read the privacy policy before use

Analysis of Code Flex

Overall verdict

  • I don't have verified, specific information about 'Code Flex' at codeflex.pages.dev, as it appears to be a lesser-known or newly launched site hosted on Cloudflare Pages, and I cannot confirm its legitimacy, content quality, or safety without direct access to browse and verify it.

Why this product is good

  • Cloudflare Pages (.pages.dev) is a free hosting platform, meaning this could be anyone's personal, hobby, or unfinished project rather than an established product
  • No verifiable reviews, reputation data, or track record exists in available knowledge to assess trustworthiness
  • The name suggests it may be a coding practice, tutorial, or developer tool site, but its actual purpose, features, and quality are unconfirmed
  • Sites on free hosting subdomains generally warrant extra caution regarding data privacy and content reliability until proven otherwise

Recommended for

  • Users should independently verify the site by checking for an About page, contact information, HTTPS security, and third-party reviews before use
  • Not recommended for entering sensitive personal or payment information without further verification
  • Best approached with caution until legitimacy and purpose are confirmed through direct inspection or trusted reviews

MiddleDrag videos

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Demo

Code Flex videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to MiddleDrag and Code Flex)

MiddleDrag

Code Flex

Utilities
100 100%
Utilities
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
Developer Tools
100% 100
Mac Tools
100 100%
Mac Tools
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No Code
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No Code
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Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing MiddleDrag and Code Flex.

What makes your product unique?

MiddleDrag's answer

MiddleDrag is the only free, open-source middle-click solution for Mac trackpads that works alongside Mission Control and other system gestures. Most alternatives either require disabling system gestures, cost money, or have been abandoned. MiddleDrag uses Apple's MultitouchSupport framework to intercept touch data before the system gesture recognizer, so three-finger gestures trigger middle-click while four-finger gestures still activate Mission Control. It's also a native menu bar app with GUI settings: no terminal configuration required.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

MiddleDrag's answer

MacBook users who need middle-click functionality without an external mouse. This includes 3D and CAD professionals using Blender, Fusion 360, FreeCAD, SketchUp, Maya, or OnShape who need to orbit and pan viewports. Designers working in Figma, Photoshop, or Illustrator who want to pan canvases. Developers who want to close tabs in VS Code or IDEs with a click. Browser power users who open links in new tabs frequently. Anyone frustrated that Apple trackpads lack a middle mouse button.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

MiddleDrag's answer

BetterTouchTool ($10-24) is powerful but overwhelming: hundreds of options when you just want middle-click. Middle ($8) charges for functionality that should be free and is closed-source. MagicPrefs stopped working years ago when Apple changed their APIs. MiddleClick requires terminal commands for configuration and has no GUI. MiddleDrag does one thing well: middle-click and middle-drag via three-finger gestures. It's free, open-source, actively maintained, and just works.

What's the story behind your product?

MiddleDrag's answer

I was using Blender and Fusion 360 on my MacBook and got tired of the workarounds for middle-click. You either buy an external mouse, pay for BetterTouchTool, or suffer. The free alternatives had either stopped working or required terminal configuration. It felt wrong that such basic functionality was paywalled or abandoned. So I built MiddleDrag: a native, open-source solution that does one thing well. The hardest part was getting it to coexist with Mission Control instead of fighting it, which required digging into Apple's private MultitouchSupport framework.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

MiddleDrag's answer

  • Swift 6
  • Apple's MultitouchSupport framework (private API for raw multitouch data)
  • CoreGraphics (CGEvent for synthetic mouse event generation)
  • Accessibility API (for event injection)
  • SwiftUI and AppKit (menu bar interface)
  • Sparkle (auto-updates)
  • Sentry (opt-in crash reporting)

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

MiddleDrag's answer

MiddleDrag is a free, open-source tool for individual users rather than enterprise customers. Its users include:

  • 3D artists and CAD engineers using Blender, Fusion 360, and FreeCAD
  • UX/UI designers working in Figma and Photoshop
  • Software developers navigating code in VS Code and JetBrains IDEs
  • Architecture students using SketchUp and Rhino
  • Browser power users who open dozens of tabs daily

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing MiddleDrag and Code Flex, you can also consider the following products

BetterTouchTool - Nov 5, 2017 - BetterTouchTool is a great, feature packed app that allows you to configure many gestures for your Magic Mouse (1 & 2), Macbook Trackpad and Magic Trackpad (1 & 2) and also Mouse Gestures for normal mice.

Middleclick - Welcome to MiddleClick. The next generation application launcher from CodeLogic Software.

MiddleClickApp - MiddleClick is a free app with the only purpose of enable the middle click with magic mouse. Download link: https://dericeira.github.io/middleclick/

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