powerful-connection

This macOS script determines if we have a "powerful connection".

The phrase "powerful connection" is our nickname for when our laptop is fully powered up, and has a good wireless connection suitable for significant networking, such as downloading big files or streaming data.

Details

This script runs these checks:

• The computer is running on AC power.
• The battery is fully charged.
• The CPU has available processing cycles.
• The WiFi is working and is connected to a SSID.
• The SSID accept list succeeds.
• The SSID reject list succeeds.

Ideas

We use this script for optionally running large network jobs. For example, we use a daily job that checks for a powerful connection, and if so, then the job downloads any available software updates.

We use this script as a way to check if we should run streaming. For example, we use this script to do a check when a user signs in: if the user has a powerful connection, then we launch video streaming.

Exit codes

• 0: success
• 2x: power issue
• 20: computer power is not plugged in
• 21: battery power is not fully charged
• 22: processing power is not sufficient
• 3x: connection issue
• 30: ssid unavailable
• 31: ssid accept list exists, and ssid is not in it
• 32: ssid reject list exists, and ssid is in in

Configuration

Create these files:

~/.config/powerful-connecton/blacklist.txt
~/.config/powerful-connecton/whitelist.txt

Add any SSID names that you want to either list.

Add each SSID name on its own line.

Cron

We like using the cron command to schedule recurring jobs. For example, each night we check if we have powerful wifi, and if so, then we upgrade our system software and apps.

Example crontab lines:

0 0 * * * powerful-connection && nice softwareupdate --install --all
0 1 * * * powerful-connection && nice brew upgrade --cleanup
0 2 * * * powerful-connection && nice npm update -g

Details:

• We use the nice command to run the job at lower priority.

• We use the softwareupdate command to update macOS.

• We use the brew command to manage many of our software tools.

• We use the npm command for node package management.

References

This script is related to these repositories:

• https://github.com/sixarm/airport-ssid
• https://github.com/sixarm/hostinfo-commands
• https://github.com/sixarm/pmset-commands
• https://github.com/sixarm/ssid-powerful
• https://github.com/sixarm/sysctl-commands
• https://github.com/updatecommand/update

Disclaimers

• This script is suitable for demonstration purposes.
• There is no warranty, express or implied.
• Use at your own risk.
• Your mileage may vary.

Tracking

• Command: powerful-connection
• Version: 2.0.0
• Created: 2015-07-01
• Updated: 2023-11-25T01:22:49Z
• License: GPL-2.0 or GPL-3.0 or contact for custom
• Contact: Joel Parker Henderson (joel@joelparkerhenderson.com)