Jesse, We Have to Cook - Mac Menu Bar Utility
Keep your Mac awake and stay active while compiling, streaming or thinking. Jesse, We Have to Cook is a free, lightweight menu bar utility for macOS that prevents your computer from going to sleep, ensuring you remain active in work communication platforms.
[Download v1.1 - Free] [View Source Code]
Installation
To install "Jesse, We Have to Cook", simply download the latest release from the link above and unzip the file. Drag the application to your Applications folder and launch it.
As this is a self-signed app distributed outside of the Mac App Store, you may need to right-click the app and select "Open" the first time you run it to bypass macOS security warnings. Or go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General and click "Open Anyway" for the app.
Alternatively, you can compile the app from source if you have Xcode installed. Clone the repository, open the Xcode project, and build & run the app on your machine.
Screenshots
"Keep Awake" prevents your Mac from starting the screensaver or going to sleep. "Keep Active" simulates user activity to maintain active status in messaging apps.
Key Features
- Prevent Mac Sleep Mode: Keep your macOS computer awake and active without manual intervention
- Stay Active in Messaging Apps: Maintain online presence in Slack, Microsoft Teams, Discord, Zoom, and other communication platforms
- Lightweight & Efficient: Minimal RAM and CPU footprint (under 10MB memory usage) - won't impact system performance
- Menu Bar Integration: Easy access and control directly from your macOS menu bar
- Open Source Software: Fully transparent, auditable codebase available on GitHub
- Completely Free: No cost, no subscriptions, no premium features, no ads
- Privacy Focused: No data collection, no analytics, no network requests
- macOS Native: Built specifically for Mac with native macOS APIs
Perfect For
- Remote Workers: Stay active during virtual meetings and collaboration
- Freelancers: Maintain client communication availability
- Students: Keep online presence during virtual classes and study groups
- Developers: Prevent interruptions during code compilation and long processes
- Content Creators: Maintain streaming presence and audience engagement
- Team Leaders: Show availability for team support and quick responses
Supported Applications
Works with all macOS applications including:
- Slack - Stay active in team channels and direct messages
- Microsoft Teams - Maintain presence in meetings and chats
- Discord - Keep online status in gaming and community servers
- Zoom - Prevent disconnection during long meetings
- Skype - Stay available for business calls
- WhatsApp Desktop - Maintain messaging availability
- Telegram - Keep active status in group chats
- And any other macOS application that detects system activity
System Requirements
- Operating System: macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later
- Architecture: Intel and Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) Macs supported
- Memory: ~35MB RAM usage
- Storage: Under 4MB disk space
Running the App
- Download the ZIP file
- Unzip the downloaded file
- Drag the app to your Applications folder (optional)
- Double-click to run - the app will appear in your menu bar
Jesse, We Have to Cook is compatible with all modern macOS versions. No administrator privileges required. The app is ad-hoc code-signed for security.