Show HN: WhatCable, a tiny menu bar app for inspecting USB-C cables
WhatCable is a small macOS menu bar application that helps users understand the capabilities of their USB-C cables by displaying relevant technical information in plain English. It identifies charging speeds, cable limitations, and connected device details based on data from macOS's IOKit framework. The app supports Apple silicon and Intel Macs, requires macOS 14 or later, and is distributed as a signed and notarized application.
- ▪WhatCable displays USB-C cable capabilities such as speed, power rating, and supported protocols directly in the macOS menu bar.
- ▪The app shows real-time charging diagnostics, including whether a cable is limiting charging speed or if the Mac is negotiating lower power due to battery levels.
- ▪It reads data from IOKit without using private APIs or helper daemons, making it compatible with standard macOS security policies.
- ▪Cable e-marker information is only available for cables that include one, which typically includes Thunderbolt/USB4 and high-power 5A cables.
- ▪WhatCable is not available on the App Store due to App Sandbox restrictions that prevent access to required IOKit services.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
WhatCable What can this USB-C cable actually do? A small macOS menu bar app that tells you, in plain English, what each USB-C cable plugged into your Mac can actually do, and why your Mac might be charging slowly. USB-C hides a lot under one connector. Anything from a USB 2.0 charge-only cable to a 240W / 40 Gbps Thunderbolt 4 cable, all looking identical in your drawer. macOS already exposes the relevant info via IOKit; WhatCable surfaces it as a friendly menu bar popover. What it shows Per port, in plain English: At-a-glance headline — Thunderbolt / USB4, USB device, Charging only, Slow USB / charge-only cable, Nothing connected Charging diagnostic — when something's plugged in, a banner identifies the bottleneck: "Cable is limiting charging speed" (cable rated below the charger)…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Hacker News: Best.
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