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https://github.com/ihazgithub/topoff

Stop forgetting brew update && brew upgrade. A menu bar app that keeps your Homebrew packages fresh — automatic checks, one-click updates, zero terminal required.
https://github.com/ihazgithub/topoff

brew developer-tools homebrew homebrew-cask homebrew-updater macos macos-app menu-bar-app menubar package-manager productivity swift swiftui utility

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Stop forgetting brew update && brew upgrade. A menu bar app that keeps your Homebrew packages fresh — automatic checks, one-click updates, zero terminal required.

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README 

          


  TopOff app icon




TopOff





  A lightweight native Mac menu bar app for keeping Homebrew packages up to date.






  Free · MIT licensed · No telemetry · macOS 14+






  Download TopOff for macOS






  Version 2.0 is here — signed and notarized by Apple, so it installs cleanly on first launch. See what's new →




If you use Homebrew, you have probably forgotten to run `brew update && brew upgrade` for weeks at a time. TopOff checks quietly in the background, shows outdated packages from the menu bar, and lets you update with one click.



## Features



- **One-click updates** — Run `brew update && brew upgrade` from your menu bar

- **Automatic update checking** — Periodically checks for outdated packages in the background

- **Smart icon status** — Full mug when up-to-date, half-full when updates are available, animated spinner when actively updating

- **Real-time progress** — See exactly which package is being updated as it happens — click the menu bar during updates to watch live

- **Package details at a glance** — See outdated package names and version changes directly in the menu

- **Selective updates** — Update or skip individual packages

- **Greedy mode** — Optionally include apps that handle their own updates (Chrome, Slack, etc.) in both scheduled checks and upgrades

- **Auto cleanup** — Automatically runs standard `brew cleanup` after upgrades, with an optional deep-prune style for power users

- **Deep cache prune** — Manually run `brew cleanup --prune=all`, or opt Auto Cleanup into it from the Cleanup submenu

- **Admin retry for protected packages** — If a cask needs admin access, TopOff prompts for your password and retries automatically

- **Update history** — View recently updated packages with version changes

- **Configurable check interval** — Check every hour, 4 hours (default), 12 hours, 24 hours, or manually

- **Launch at login** — Always have TopOff ready

- **Automatic retry on network restore** — If the app launches without internet (e.g., at startup before WiFi connects), it automatically checks for updates once connectivity is restored

- **Update notifications** — Checks GitHub for new releases on launch and periodically while running

- **See what changed** — View upgraded packages and freed disk space in the menu



## Screenshots



![TopOff Demo](TopOff_demo.gif)



The menu bar icon tells you at a glance if updates are available:



| Icon | Meaning |

|------|---------|

| Full mug | All packages are up-to-date |

| Half-full mug | Updates are available (needs a refill!) |

| Spinning arrows | Checking for updates or updating — click to see live progress |

| Checkmark | Update completed successfully |



## Installation



### Download (Recommended)



1. Download the [latest DMG](https://github.com/ihazgithub/TopOff/releases/latest/download/TopOff-v2.0.1.dmg)

2. Open the DMG and drag TopOff to your Applications folder

3. Launch TopOff. It's signed and notarized by Apple, so it opens immediately on first launch — no trip through Privacy & Security needed.



### Build from Source



1. Clone this repository

2. Open `TopOff/TopOff.xcodeproj` in Xcode

3. Build and run (⌘R)



### Requirements



- macOS 14.0 or later

- [Homebrew](https://brew.sh) installed



## Usage



1. Click the beer mug icon in your menu bar

2. See which packages need updating with version details

3. Choose **Update All**, **Update All (Greedy)**, or update individual packages

4. Watch the icon animate while updates run

5. Check the menu to see what was upgraded and how much disk space was freed



### Options



All preferences are available under the **Options** submenu:



- **Launch at Login** — Start TopOff when you log in

- **Auto Cleanup** — Automatically runs standard `brew cleanup` after upgrades (on by default)

- **Cleanup** — Run standard cleanup, run **Deep Cache Prune…**, or choose the saved **Auto Cleanup Style**

- **Auto Cleanup Style** — Defaults to standard `brew cleanup`. Power users can opt into `brew cleanup --prune=all` after a confirmation step. This removes Homebrew cached downloads to reclaim more disk space, but does not uninstall apps or command line tools.

- **Greedy Mode** — Always check and update everything, including apps that auto-update themselves (off by default — see [Greedy Mode explained](#whats-the-difference-between-update-all-and-greedy))

- **Check Interval** — How often TopOff checks for outdated packages:

- **View Update History** — See recently updated packages with version changes



| Setting | Behavior |

|---------|----------|

| Every hour | Check every 60 minutes |

| Every 4 hours | Default setting |

| Every 12 hours | Check twice daily |

| Every 24 hours | Check once daily |

| Manual only | Only check when you click "Check for Updates" |



## What's the difference between Update All and Greedy?



Some casks (Chrome, Slack, VSCode, etc.) have built-in auto-update and are normally skipped by Homebrew. Greedy mode tells Homebrew to update them anyway.



**By default**, TopOff gives you both options:



| Button | Command | What it does |

|--------|---------|--------------|

| Update All | `brew upgrade` | Updates packages that don't auto-update themselves |

| Update All (Greedy) | `brew upgrade`, then `brew upgrade --greedy` | Updates everything, including apps that auto-update |



Scheduled background checks use normal mode, so those auto-updating apps won't show up as outdated.



**With Greedy Mode enabled** (in Options), TopOff switches to greedy everywhere:



- Scheduled checks use `brew outdated --greedy` so auto-updating apps appear as outdated

- The normal "Update All" button is hidden since "Update All (Greedy)" covers everything

- This is ideal if you prefer Homebrew to manage all your app updates in one place



Greedy Mode is off by default. You can toggle it anytime under **Options > Greedy Mode**.



## Privacy & Network Connections



TopOff makes only one network connection:



- **GitHub API** (`api.github.com`) — Checks for new TopOff releases on launch and periodically while running



That's it. No analytics, no telemetry, no tracking.



### Why does my firewall show other connections?



If you use a firewall like Little Snitch or Lulu, you may see TopOff associated with connections to other servers (e.g., InfluxData, Google, etc.). **These connections are from Homebrew, not TopOff.**



When TopOff runs `brew update` or `brew upgrade`, it spawns Homebrew as a child process. Firewalls often attribute child process network activity to the parent app. These connections may come from:



- Homebrew's own analytics (can be disabled with `brew analytics off`)

- Specific formulas or casks being updated that have telemetry

- Package download servers



You can safely allow or deny these connections based on your preferences — denying them won't affect TopOff's functionality.



## License



MIT License - feel free to use, modify, and distribute.



## Attribution



TopOff is open source under the MIT License.



If you use, fork, or build on TopOff, attribution to Thomas Haslam and a link to the original project are appreciated where practical, such as in your README, credits, or release notes.



## Credits



Created by **Thomas Haslam**