Battery is a CLI and GUI tool for managing battery charging limits on Apple Silicon Macs.
The tool addresses battery longevity by preventing overcharging, which generates heat and degrades lithium-based batteries over time. It works by discharging the battery to 80% even when plugged in, then disabling charging above that threshold and re-enabling it below. The charging limit persists across reboots and remains active even when the app is closed. The tool includes both a graphical interface for casual users and a command-line interface that supports custom charging percentages beyond the default 80%.
Battery is designed specifically for Apple Silicon Macs and will not run on Intel-based machines. The README names Al Dente as an alternative, noting it offers a free version and premium tier with additional features. Installation is straightforward through Homebrew, a downloadable DMG file, or direct CLI installation. The GUI requires administrator credentials on first launch to install necessary components, including the underlying command-line tool. Users seeking charging limits other than 80% must use the CLI rather than the graphical interface.
The project maintains both CLI and GUI implementations, with the GUI built as an Electron application. The tool depends on a precompiled SMC utility sourced from an external repository to communicate with the Mac's system management controller. Development appears focused on core functionality for the Apple Silicon platform, with the creator having built this as an alternative to existing solutions due to licensing concerns with comparable software.
