Perked

Perked is a macOS menu-bar app for people who leave AI coding agents, long builds, and other extended jobs running on their Mac. It monitors selected applications, keeps the Mac awake while the work is active, and allows normal sleep behavior to resume once the job stops.

Designed for macOS 14 and later, Perked removes the need to repeatedly move the trackpad or change system sleep settings whenever you start a long-running task. It stays quietly in the background and focuses on the specific application or session you want to keep running.

Key Features

AI Agent Detection

Perked recognizes common AI coding and development tools out of the box, including:

• Claude Code
• Cursor
• Aider
• Codex
• Gemini
• Copilot

You can also add other applications when your workflow uses a different tool.

Power-Aware Behavior

Perked can adjust its keep-awake behavior based on the Mac's power state.

You can configure it to stay awake:

• Only while connected to AC power
• While the battery remains above a chosen threshold

This helps avoid unnecessarily draining the battery during long-running jobs.

Lid-Closed Support

Perked can keep supported work running while the MacBook lid is closed.

This makes it useful for clamshell-style workflows where a long build or agent session needs to continue without keeping the laptop display open.

Timed Sessions

Not every task needs automatic app detection.

Perked also provides manual keep-awake sessions for situations such as:

• Short tasks
• Long builds
• Overnight runs

Set a period and let the Mac remain awake for the duration of the session.

Lock & Leave

You can lock the Mac while allowing the active session to continue.

This provides a simple way to leave a long-running task unattended without leaving the screen unlocked.

Heat-Aware Pauses

Perked can pause its keep-awake behavior when the Mac becomes too warm.

Once the machine cools down, the session can resume, providing a more temperature-aware approach to extended runs.

Activity Journal

The activity journal records changes in Perked's state so you can understand what happened during a session.

It records when Perked:

• Switched on
• Switched off
• Paused

This provides useful context when a long-running task does not continue as expected.

Optional Notifications

Notifications can alert you when Perked starts, stops, or pauses.

They are off by default, keeping the menu-bar experience quiet unless you specifically want status updates.

Lightweight Native App

Perked is built as a small SwiftUI menu-bar app rather than an Electron application.

It requires:

• macOS 14 or later
• No account
• No always-on cloud service
• On-device operation

The app is also signed and notarized for normal macOS installation behavior.

Built For Mac Users Running Long Jobs

Perked is designed for people who regularly leave applications or processes running for extended periods.

It is particularly useful for:

• AI coding users running agents such as Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, or Gemini
• Developers running long builds or compilation jobs
• Automation users leaving extended tasks active
• MacBook users running overnight or unattended sessions
• Power users who want sleep behavior tied to the job rather than system-wide settings

Common Use Cases

• AI coding sessions: Keep an AI coding agent running without repeatedly interacting with the Mac.
• Long builds: Prevent sleep while lengthy development builds are active.
• Overnight jobs: Run extended tasks while the Mac stays awake.
• Clamshell workflows: Continue supported jobs with the laptop lid closed.
• Battery-conscious sessions: Keep the Mac awake only when plugged in or above a chosen battery level.
• Short keep-awake tasks: Manually maintain an active session for a defined period.
• Locked Mac workflows: Lock the screen while allowing a session to continue.
• Thermal management: Pause keep-awake behavior when the Mac becomes too warm.
• Session troubleshooting: Review the activity journal to understand why Perked changed state.

Pricing

Perked is sold as a one-time purchase with free updates.

Pricing is structured around launch tiers, with the purchase providing continued use without a subscription.

Why It Matters

macOS sleep behavior is useful for everyday computer use, but it can become inconvenient when an AI coding agent, build, or other extended task needs to continue running unattended. Changing system settings manually for every session is also broader than necessary when the goal is simply to keep one particular job active.

Perked takes a more targeted approach by connecting keep-awake behavior to selected applications, timed sessions, and power conditions. Its heat-aware pauses and activity journal add additional context for longer runs, while Lock & Leave allows the Mac to remain secured during an active session.

The local, native design also keeps the utility focused. There is no account to manage and no Electron wrapper, while on-device processing means the app can handle its sleep-management role without relying on a separate online service.

Keep Long-Running Mac Jobs Awake With Perked

Let Perked handle the sleep behavior while you focus on the work. With AI agent detection, timed sessions, power-aware controls, lid-closed support, heat-aware pauses, activity logging, and optional notifications, Perked provides a lightweight way to keep long-running jobs active on macOS without repeatedly changing system settings.