macOS
Homebrew Caskverified · 100%
brew install --cask caffeinelocal Homebrew cask metadata
cask
Install caffeine with Homebrew Cask
Utility that prevents the system from going to sleep. Version 1.1.4 via Homebrew Cask; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
Utility that prevents the system from going to sleep
Project links
Commands and aliases
No executable aliases were found in the local package database.
history
Project history and usage
Caffeine is a small open-source macOS menu-bar utility that temporarily prevents the computer from sleeping, dimming its display, or activating screen savers.
Project history
Caffeine was originally developed in 2006 by Tomas Franzén of Lighthead Software. It prevents automatic sleep and related idle behavior by calling macOS system APIs.
IntelliScape Solutions later contacted Franzén and received the source under an open-source license, allowing the company to continue the project after compatibility problems appeared with macOS Mojave.
Adoption history
Caffeine became a well-known Mac utility because its menu-bar interface reduced sleep prevention to a single click. Its simple design allowed it to remain useful after active development of the original version ceased.
After macOS Mojave introduced privacy controls that interfered with the older implementation, IntelliScape obtained permission and source code from Tomas Franzén and resumed development. Later releases restored compatibility with newer macOS versions while preserving the original interaction model.
How it is used
Launching Caffeine places a coffee-cup icon in the menu bar. Clicking the icon toggles indefinite keep-awake mode; right-clicking or Command-clicking exposes timed activation, preferences, and quit commands.
The empty cup indicates that Caffeine is inactive, while a full cup indicates that the Mac will be kept awake. Newer macOS releases may require Accessibility permission.
Why package nerds care
Caffeine is an early and enduring example of the tiny macOS menu-bar utility: one narrowly defined system behavior, minimal interface, and effectively no setup. Its continued packaging illustrates how small utilities can outlive their original maintainers when operating-system changes eventually require stewardship to resume.
Timeline
- 2006: Tomas Franzén of Lighthead Software originally developed Caffeine.
- 2018: IntelliScape continued development after receiving the source code under an open-source license.
- 2019: Version 1.1.2 introduced support for macOS Mojave and Catalina privacy requirements.
- 2025: Version 1.1.4 added compatibility with macOS Tahoe.
Related projects
- macOS includes the similarly purposed caffeinate command, although the official documentation states that Caffeine is not merely a wrapper around it.
- Numerous later keep-awake menu-bar utilities follow the same general interaction pattern.
Sources
security posture
No protected-tool coverage found yet
No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for caffeine. Package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- No Homebrew bottle metadata was recorded.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| No executable data was present. | |||
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-11-04
manager version1.1.4
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://github.com/IntelliScape/caffeine
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/IntelliScape/caffeinenone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | cask:caffeine |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.1.4 |
| Package manager | Homebrew Cask |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/cask/caffeine |
| Homepage | https://intelliscapesolutions.com/apps/caffeine |
| Repository | https://github.com/IntelliScape/caffeine |
| Upstream docs | https://intelliscapesolutions.com/apps/caffeine |
| Source archive | https://github.com/IntelliScape/caffeine/releases/download/1.1.4/Caffeine.dmg |
| SHA-256 | 1ad34c3299a0c866873c4feb432c3e11186375adb6f43c5f481ae9d46d06d723 |
| Bottle | not recorded |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew cask API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/cask |
| Full Token | caffeine |
| Names |
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| Conflicts With | |
| Artifacts | |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment
- pkgdb category and tag curation