Remember the Boss Key?

In the 1990s, when office computers were slow and beige, a small invention appeared in certain games: the boss key.

One moment you might be guiding Larry Laffer through another awkward flirtation in Leisure Suit Larry, or helping Roger Wilco dodge aliens in Space Quest. The next moment - footsteps in the corridor. A quick press of Ctrl+B, and the screen transformed.

A harmless spreadsheet appeared. Bar graphs. Numbers. Innocence.

Sierra’s designers added these keys with gentle mischief. In some titles the fake screen carried a quiet reprimand:

Caught playing on company time?

In others, the game simply paused and waited, as if to say, “I understand.”

There was no panic, only a brief pause. The illusion was thin, yet it worked. The boss walked past. The game resumed.

I find myself thinking about that small act of concealment lately. Not because I spend my days hiding games (I don’t), but because it reminds me how often we still need quiet escapes from the open-plan gaze of modern work. Even in a coffee shop you sometimes clock a guy looking over your shoulder at your screen and you want a quick block.

So, in the spirit of those old keys, I’ve begun building a lightweight tool - simple, calm app that sits discreetly in the background when you need it. Nothing flashy.

It's private tracker for small wins on the front (notes, to-do app) which could work as it. Then: Press Ctrl + B (or Cmd + B on Mac) to toggle Boss Mode.

A quick flash of a generic chart pops up. Then when the coast is clear, get back to whatever you are really working on.

Will be added to the App Feed shortly.