{"slug": "i-put-a-local-llm-agent-inside-a-menu-bar-mac-monitor-and-you-can-leave-it-off", "title": "I put a local LLM agent inside a menu-bar Mac monitor (and you can leave it off)", "summary": "Mac-stats, a free MIT-licensed menu-bar system monitor for Apple Silicon Macs, now includes an optional local AI agent powered by Ollama that is off by default, alongside CPU, SSD, and temperature monitoring, a glass window with themes, process lists, website monitors, and Disk Cleanup. The app, available via Homebrew or GitHub, requires macOS on arm64 and sends no cloud telemetry, distinguishing itself from paid tools like iStat Menus by focusing on essential metrics and local-first operation.", "body_md": "**Menu-bar system monitor for Apple Silicon (optional local AI agent).**\n\nApple Silicon only(arm64). Intel Macs are not supported by the published DMG / Homebrew cask.\n\n**Free MIT · local-first · no cloud telemetry.** Core glanceable metrics in the menu bar; optional Ollama / Discord agent when you want it — off by default.\n\nTwo products in one binary — pick your path:\n\nJust the monitor |\nMonitor + AI agent |\n|\n|---|---|---|\n| What you get | Menu-bar CPU + SSD (and °C when known), glass window, themes, process list, website monitors, Disk Cleanup |\nEverything left + local Ollama chat, Discord bot, schedules, Agent Ops |\n| Needs | macOS on Apple Silicon | +\n|\n\n**off by default**`aiAgentEnabled: true`\n\nor use Settings📋 [Changelog](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md) · ✨ [Features](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/FEATURES.md) · 📘 [Getting Started](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/docs/GETTING_STARTED.md) · 🗺 [Roadmap](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/docs/ROADMAP.md) · 🍺 [Homebrew](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/docs/homebrew.md) · 🌐 [Landing](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/docs/site/index.html) · 🔬 [How we compare](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/docs/042_how_we_compare.md)\n\n[Quick start — Just the monitor](#quick-start--just-the-monitor)[Quick start — Monitor + AI agent](#quick-start--monitor--ai-agent)[Screenshots](#screenshots)[vs. Stats / iStat Menus / MenuMeters](#vs-stats--istat-menus--menumeters)[Install options](#install-options)[Privacy](#privacy)[Updates](#updates)[Full features](#full-features)[Build from source](#build-from-source)\n\n```\nbrew tap raro42/mac-stats https://github.com/raro42/mac-stats\nbrew install --cask mac-stats\n# or: ./scripts/quickstart.sh   # from a clone; installs + seeds ~/.mac-stats\nopen -a mac-stats\n```\n\nLook at the menu bar → click for the window. **No Ollama required.** Disk Cleanup, monitors, and themes are all in the glass window.\n\n- Install the app (above).\n- Install Ollama and pull a model:\n\n```\ncurl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh\nollama pull llama3.2\n```\n\n- Enable AI in Settings (\n**Enable local AI agent**) or:\n\n```\n# in ~/.mac-stats/config.json\n{ \"aiAgentEnabled\": true, \"menuBarCompact\": true }\n```\n\n- Open the window →\n**AI Chat (Ollama)**→ try:*What's my CPU temp?*\n\nDetails: [docs/GETTING_STARTED.md](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/docs/GETTING_STARTED.md).\n\n[~49s live window capture](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/raro42/mac-stats@main/docs/screens/mac-stats-features.mp4) — real `mac_stats --cpu`\n\nsession (ScreenCaptureKit, window-only): live gauges, monitors (including a red down site), Agent Ops, Ollama chat. Letterboxed to 1080p with light voiceover. ([repo file](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/docs/screens/mac-stats-features.mp4))\n\nFull theme gallery and capture notes: [docs/screens/README.md](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/docs/screens/README.md).\n\nRepo: [github.com/raro42/mac-stats](https://github.com/raro42/mac-stats/)\n\nClosest peers from a 2026 menu-bar monitor scan ([how we compare](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/docs/042_how_we_compare.md)):\n\nmac-stats |\nStats (exelban) |\niStat Menus |\nMenuMeters |\n|\n|---|---|---|---|---|\n| Menu-bar CPU / RAM / disk | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (basic) |\n| Apple Silicon focus | ✅ arm64 only | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |\n| Themes / glass UI | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | — |\n| Disk Cleanup (scopes · soft-delete → Trash) | ✅ | — | — | — |\n| Local LLM agent (Ollama) | ✅ optional |\n— | — | — |\n| Discord bot / schedules | ✅ optional |\n— | — | — |\n| Deep sensors / history / weather | lean essentials | strong | deepest | minimal |\n| Price | Free (MIT) |\nFree / donate | Paid | Free |\n| Cloud telemetry | ❌ none | — | — | — |\n\n**How to pick:**\n\n**vs Stats**— Stats is the classic free OSS monitor; mac-stats keeps that spirit with glass/themes,** Disk Cleanup**(scoped reclaim with soft-delete to Trash by default), and** optional**local AI / Discord / schedules.** vs iStat Menus**— iStat Menus is the paid deep-sensor benchmark; mac-stats stays on essentials + Apple Silicon glanceability + lightweight cleanup (we are**not** a full iStat replacement).**vs MenuMeters**— MenuMeters is minimal bars; mac-stats adds richer metrics, themes, Disk Cleanup, and optional agent workflows without forcing AI on.\n\nLeave AI off for a Stats-like monitor only. Local-first: core metrics never need the cloud.\n\n| Method | Command / link |\n|---|---|\nHomebrew cask |\n`brew tap raro42/mac-stats https://github.com/raro42/mac-stats && brew install --cask mac-stats` |\nQuick Start script |\n`./scripts/quickstart.sh` (clone) — app + `~/.mac-stats` defaults + Ollama check |\nDMG |\n|\n\n**Source**[Build from source](#build-from-source)** Gatekeeper / notarization:** Prefer signed+notarized builds ([docs/NOTARIZATION.md](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/docs/NOTARIZATION.md)). Until CI secrets are set, use Right-click → **Open**.\n\nConfig templates in repo root: [ config.minimal.json](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/config.minimal.json) (monitor-only),\n\n[(AI enabled).](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/config.example.json)\n\n`config.example.json`\n\n**No cloud telemetry** — everything stays in ** ~/.mac-stats/**. Secrets: Keychain and/or\n\n`.config.env`\n\n(never commit). See [docs/CONFIG.md](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/docs/CONFIG.md).\n\nIn-app banner checks GitHub Releases. Or: `brew upgrade --cask mac-stats`\n\n.\n\n- Compact menu bar by default (\n**CPU + SSD**, plus °C when known); set`menuBarCompact: false`\n\nfor CPU/GPU/RAM/SSD. - Nine themes, process list, website monitors (menu bar shows a red\n**Mon ✕** cue when any site is down). - GPU usage ring gauge alongside CPU / frequency / temperature.\n- ~0.5% idle CPU (menu bar only).\n\nBuilt-in reclaim panel (no AI required):\n\n- Preview reclaimable size;\n**Clean now**, or automatic runs on** app launch**and every** 24h**while running. **Scopes** you can turn on/off: mac-stats data, Trash, Downloads, Temp, plus custom paths (age in days + recurse). Saved in`diskCleanupScopes`\n\n.**Soft-delete by default**— cleaned files go to** Trash**so you can recover them. Uncheck*Move cleaned items to Trash*(or set`diskCleanupSoftDelete: false`\n\n) for permanent delete. Emptying the Trash scope is always permanent.- Details:\n[FEATURES.md](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/FEATURES.md#disk-cleanup)· screenshot above.\n\n- Ollama chat, Discord (Werner), FETCH_URL, Brave, Perplexity, CDP browser, tasks, scheduler, MCP, Agent Ops.\n- Off until\n`aiAgentEnabled: true`\n\n.\n\n[ docs/CONFIG.md](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/docs/CONFIG.md) · Settings →\n\n**Reset to monitor defaults**.\n\n| Command | Description |\n|---|---|\n`mac_stats` / `open -a mac-stats` |\nStart |\n`mac_stats --cpu` |\nStart with window open |\n`mac_stats -vv` |\nVerbose `debug.log` |\n\n```\ngit clone https://github.com/raro42/mac-stats.git\ncd mac-stats\ngit checkout v0.1.257   # pin when possible\n./run\n```\n\nRequires Rust + Xcode CLT (macOS Tauri). Checksums: `./scripts/print-release-checksums.sh v0.1.257`\n\n.\n\nContributor docs: [docs/design/](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/docs/design). Workflow: [docs/agent_workflow.md](/raro42/mac-stats/blob/main/docs/agent_workflow.md).\n\n[Discord](https://discord.com/users/687953899566530588) · [Discussions](https://github.com/raro42/mac-stats/discussions) · [Issues](https://github.com/raro42/mac-stats/issues) · [Feedback](https://github.com/raro42/mac-stats/issues/3)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/i-put-a-local-llm-agent-inside-a-menu-bar-mac-monitor-and-you-can-leave-it-off", "canonical_source": "https://github.com/raro42/mac-stats", "published_at": "2026-08-10 18:57:59+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-10 19:13:34.476705+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-products", "ai-tools", "developer-tools", "artificial-intelligence"], "entities": ["mac-stats", "Ollama", "Apple Silicon", "Homebrew", "GitHub", "Stats (exelban)", "iStat Menus", "MenuMeters"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/i-put-a-local-llm-agent-inside-a-menu-bar-mac-monitor-and-you-can-leave-it-off", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/i-put-a-local-llm-agent-inside-a-menu-bar-mac-monitor-and-you-can-leave-it-off.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/i-put-a-local-llm-agent-inside-a-menu-bar-mac-monitor-and-you-can-leave-it-off.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/i-put-a-local-llm-agent-inside-a-menu-bar-mac-monitor-and-you-can-leave-it-off.jsonld"}}