# Caffeine

> software application to control power-saving installations

**Wikidata**: [Q1025529](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1025529)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/caffeine

## Summary
Caffeine is a free software application designed to control power-saving installations on a computer. Written in the Python programming language, it allows users to prevent their system from activating sleep modes or screensavers. The application is released under the GNU General Public License version 3.0.

## Key Facts
- **Functionality:** Software application specifically designed to control power-saving installations.
- **Software Class:** Classified as both an application and free software.
- **License:** Distributed under the GNU General Public License, version 3.0 (GPLv3).
- **Programming Language:** Written in Python.
- **Latest Version:** Version 2.9.3.
- **Release Date:** November 6, 2016 (for version 2.9.3).
- **Project ID:** Launchpad.net project ID is "caffeine".
- **Distribution:** Available as "caffeine" in Mageia and OpenSUSE software packages.
- **Copyright Status:** Copyrighted.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary function of the Caffeine software?
A: Caffeine is an application used to control power-saving installations, typically preventing a computer from going to sleep or displaying a screensaver.

### Q: Is Caffeine free to use?
A: Yes, Caffeine is classified as free software distributed under the GNU General Public License, version 3.0.

### Q: What programming language is Caffeine built with?
A: The application is written in the Python programming language.

### Q: When was version 2.9.3 of Caffeine released?
A: Version 2.9.3 was released on November 6, 2016.

## Why It Matters
Caffeine addresses a specific usability issue in desktop computing: the interruption caused by automatic power-saving features. While power management is essential for energy conservation, it can be disruptive during long-running tasks, presentations, or media playback where user input is infrequent. By providing a simple mechanism to inhibit these settings, Caffeine offers a user-friendly solution that overrides system defaults without requiring users to permanently alter their power configuration profiles.

The application holds significance within the open-source ecosystem as a practical utility maintained under the GNU General Public License. Its implementation in Python ensures cross-platform compatibility within Linux environments, evidenced by its specific packaging for distributions like Mageia and OpenSUSE. By allowing users to temporarily disable sleep functions, Caffeine plays a small but critical role in workflow optimization, ensuring that background processes or active viewing sessions remain uninterrupted by system hibernation or screen blanking.

## Notable For
- **Power Management Control:** Specifically designed to inhibit power-saving installations and screensavers.
- **Open Source Licensing:** Distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0, adhering to free software principles.
- **Python Architecture:** Built using the Python programming language, facilitating ease of integration and modification.
- **Linux Distribution Support:** Actively packaged for specific Linux distributions, including OpenSUSE and Mageia.

## Body

### Technical Overview
Caffeine is a software application categorized as free software, meaning it respects users' freedom to run, study, change, and distribute the program. It is constructed using the Python programming language, a general-purpose language known for its readability and wide usage in software development.

The application functions by interfacing with the operating system's power management protocols. Its primary purpose is to control power-saving installations, allowing the user to toggle the system's ability to enter sleep mode or activate a screensaver. This functionality is crucial for users who need their computers to remain active for extended periods without manual interaction.

### Release History and Development
The development of Caffeine is tracked through its project presence on Launchpad.net under the project ID "caffeine." The software is continuously developed under the GNU General Public License, which was confirmed via the project's source repository.

A notable release in the application's timeline is version 2.9.3. This specific version was released on November 6, 2016. The software is maintained by the Caffeine Developers team, with source code and licensing details available through the Bazaar version control system on Launchpad.

### Distribution and Availability
Caffeine is widely accessible within the Linux ecosystem. It has an Open Hub ID of "Caffeine_applet" and is officially packaged for several distributions. Users of Mageia and OpenSUSE can install the software using the package name "caffeine." The software's logo and interface assets are available through Wikimedia Commons, and it maintains a presence on the Google Knowledge Graph with the ID `/g/120rrhdd`.

## References

1. [~caffeine-developers/caffeine/main : contents of COPYING at revision 670](https://bazaar.launchpad.net/~caffeine-developers/caffeine/main/view/head:/COPYING)
2. [Source](https://www.openhub.net/p/Caffeine_applet/analyses/latest/languages_summary)
3. [Caffeine 2.9.3 released : Caffeine](https://launchpad.net/caffeine/+announcement/14346)