🌐 Website: tantulabs-cascade.web.app
📦 GitHub: github.com/tantulabs/cascade-hardware-monitor
📥 Downloads: Releases

A comprehensive cross-platform hardware monitoring application with full system monitoring capabilities, Gemini AI integration, and external API access. Modern replacement for OpenHardwareMonitor built with 2026 technologies.

By TantuLabs - Building open-source tools for developers and power users.

📦 All releases: github.com/tantulabs/cascade-hardware-monitor/releases

• CPU: Temperature, load, speed, voltage, power consumption per core
• GPU: Temperature, utilization, VRAM, fan speed, clock speeds (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel/Apple Silicon)
• Memory: Usage, modules, speed, timings
• Storage: Disk usage, temperature, SMART data, read/write speeds, NVMe health
• Network: Ethernet, WiFi, bandwidth monitoring, connection status
• Motherboard: SuperIO sensors (Nuvoton, ITE, Fintek), fan control, voltage rails
• Bluetooth: Connected devices, battery levels
• Audio: Input/output devices, volume levels
• USB: Connected devices, power consumption
• Battery: Charge level, health, cycle count

• Health Analysis: AI-powered assessment of overall system health with actionable recommendations
• Thermal Analysis: Intelligent thermal monitoring with throttling risk prediction
• Performance Analysis: Bottleneck detection and optimization suggestions
• Chat Interface: Ask questions about your hardware in natural language
• Encrypted Storage: API keys stored securely with AES-256-GCM encryption

• REST API: Full hardware data access via HTTP
• WebSocket: Real-time streaming for live dashboards
• Rate Limiting: Built-in protection against abuse
• Multi-Language SDKs: Python, TypeScript/JavaScript, Go, Rust, C#

• Runs in background with minimal resource usage
• Quick access to key metrics
• Desktop notifications for alerts
• Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)

• Configurable thresholds for any sensor
• Multiple conditions: above, below, between, outside range
• Actions: notifications, webhooks, commands, sounds
• Cooldown periods to prevent spam

• Power profile switching (Windows)
• GPU power limit adjustment
• Display brightness control
• Volume control (macOS)
• Dark mode toggle (macOS)
• Process priority management

• Extend monitoring capabilities
• Custom sensor support
• Easy plugin development with manifest system

• Real-time updates via WebSocket
• Dark theme with beautiful UI
• Responsive design for all devices

Cascade is a modern replacement for OpenHardwareMonitor, HWiNFO, and LibreHardwareMonitor:

Perfect for:

• 🤖 AI Agents - Structured JSON API with semantic analysis
• 🎮 Gamers - Real-time monitoring with alerts
• 💻 Developers - Multi-language SDKs and WebSocket streaming
• 🖥️ System Admins - Cross-platform with IPMI/BMC support

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/tantulabs/cascade-hardware-monitor.git
cd cascade-hardware-monitor

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Start in development mode
npm run dev

# Or build and run
npm run build
npm start

# Start the Electron app
npm run electron

http://localhost:8085/api/v1

Connect to ws://localhost:8085 for real-time updates.

Messages:

// Subscribe to channels
{ "type": "subscribe", "channels": ["snapshot", "alerts", "readings"] }

// Get specific data
{ "type": "get", "resource": "cpu" }

// Ping
{ "type": "ping" }

Received Events:

// Hardware snapshot
{ "type": "snapshot", "data": { ... } }

// Sensor readings
{ "type": "readings", "data": [ ... ] }

// Alert triggered
{ "type": "alert", "data": { ... } }

Configuration is stored in config/settings.json:

{
  "pollingInterval": 1000,
  "enabledSensors": ["cpu", "gpu", "memory", "disk", "network", "bluetooth", "audio", "battery", "usb"],
  "apiPort": 8085,
  "wsPort": 8086,
  "enableAuth": false,
  "apiKey": "",
  "enableHistory": true,
  "historyRetention": 3600,
  "enableAlerts": true,
  "startMinimized": false,
  "startWithWindows": false,
  "theme": "system",
  "language": "en"
}

// POST /api/v1/alerts
{
  "name": "High CPU Temperature",
  "enabled": true,
  "sensorPath": "cpu.CPU Temperature",
  "condition": "above",
  "thresholdMin": 0,
  "thresholdMax": 80,
  "duration": 5,
  "cooldown": 60,
  "actions": [
    {
      "type": "notification",
      "config": { "sound": true }
    },
    {
      "type": "webhook",
      "config": { "url": "https://your-webhook.com/alert" }
    }
  ]
}

Create a folder in plugins/ with:

manifest.json:

{
  "id": "my-plugin",
  "name": "My Custom Plugin",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "author": "Your Name",
  "description": "Description of your plugin",
  "sensors": ["custom.my-sensor"],
  "dependencies": {}
}

index.js:

export default class MyPlugin {
  constructor(metadata) {
    this.metadata = metadata;
  }

  async init() { }
  async start() { }
  async stop() { }
  
  async poll() {
    return [{
      name: 'My Sensor',
      type: 'temperature',
      value: 42,
      min: 0,
      max: 100,
      unit: '°C',
      source: 'custom.my-sensor',
      timestamp: Date.now()
    }];
  }

  async destroy() { }
}

The application includes built-in optimization profiles to balance monitoring detail vs resource usage:

// Apply a profile via API
POST /api/v1/optimization/profiles/efficiency

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/tantulabs/cascade-hardware-monitor.git
cd cascade-hardware-monitor

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Start the server
npm start

Windows:

# Using winget
winget install OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS

# Or download from https://nodejs.org

macOS:

# Using Homebrew
brew install node

# Or download from https://nodejs.org

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):

# Using NodeSource
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/tantulabs/cascade-hardware-monitor.git
cd cascade-hardware-monitor

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Build the project
npm run build

# Copy default config
cp config/settings.example.json config/settings.json

# Edit settings as needed
nano config/settings.json

# Development mode (with hot reload)
npm run dev

# Production mode
npm start

# As Electron desktop app
npm run electron

# Run as Administrator for full sensor access
# Right-click Command Prompt -> Run as Administrator

cd cascade-hardware-monitor
npm start

For LibreHardwareMonitor integration:

1. Download LibreHardwareMonitor
2. Run LibreHardwareMonitor as Administrator
3. Enable "Run" in the main menu
4. Cascade will automatically detect and use LHM sensors

# Install Xcode CLI tools (required)
xcode-select --install

# For full disk access (SMART monitoring), grant Terminal full disk access:
# System Preferences -> Security & Privacy -> Privacy -> Full Disk Access -> Add Terminal

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt update
sudo apt install lm-sensors smartmontools

# Configure lm-sensors
sudo sensors-detect --auto

# For NVIDIA GPUs
sudo apt install nvidia-driver-535  # or latest version

# For AMD GPUs
sudo apt install rocm-smi

# For IPMI (servers)
sudo apt install ipmitool
sudo modprobe ipmi_devintf

# Build the image
docker build -t cascade-hardware-monitor .

# Run with host access for sensors
docker run -d \
  --name cascade \
  --privileged \
  -p 8085:8085 \
  -v /dev:/dev:ro \
  cascade-hardware-monitor

# Check if server is running
curl http://localhost:8085/api/v1/health

# Expected response:
# {"status":"ok","timestamp":...,"uptime":...,"version":"1.0.0"}

# Get system snapshot
curl http://localhost:8085/api/v1/snapshot

Cascade Hardware Monitor supports optional Gemini AI integration for intelligent hardware analysis, recommendations, and natural language chat about your system.

• Health Analysis: AI-powered assessment of overall system health with actionable recommendations
• Thermal Analysis: Intelligent thermal monitoring with throttling risk prediction
• Performance Analysis: Bottleneck detection and optimization suggestions
• Chat Interface: Ask questions about your hardware in natural language

1. Get a Gemini API Key

   • Go to Google AI Studio
   • Create a new API key
   • Copy the key

2. Configure via API

   # Set your API key (stored encrypted locally)
   curl -X POST http://localhost:8085/api/v1/ai/gemini/configure \
     -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
     -d '{"apiKey": "YOUR_GEMINI_API_KEY"}'

3. Verify Configuration

   curl http://localhost:8085/api/v1/ai/gemini/status
   # Returns: {"enabled":true,"configured":true,"model":"gemini-2.0-flash"}

# Get AI health analysis
curl http://localhost:8085/api/v1/ai/gemini/analyze/health

# Response:
{
  "overallHealth": "good",
  "healthScore": 85,
  "summary": "System is running well with minor thermal concerns",
  "recommendations": ["Consider improving case airflow"],
  "warnings": ["CPU temperature slightly elevated"],
  "optimizations": ["Enable XMP for better memory performance"],
  "predictedIssues": [],
  "aiConfidence": 92
}

# Chat with AI about your hardware
curl -X POST http://localhost:8085/api/v1/ai/gemini/chat \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"message": "Why is my CPU running hot?", "includeContext": true}'

# Response:
{
  "response": "Based on your current system data, your CPU is at 78°C which is elevated but not critical. This could be due to..."
}

• Encrypted Storage: Your API key is stored in an encrypted file (data/gemini-config.enc) using AES-256-GCM
• Machine-Bound: The encryption key is derived from your machine's unique identifiers
• Local Only: API keys are never transmitted except to Google's Gemini API
• No Logging: API keys are never logged or exposed in responses

If Gemini AI is not configured or unavailable, all analysis endpoints return rule-based fallback assessments with aiConfidence: 0 to indicate no AI was used.

Pre-built executables are available in the Releases section.

• Node.js 20+
• npm 10+

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Build for current platform
npm run dist

# Build for specific platforms
npm run dist:win    # Windows (.exe installer + portable)
npm run dist:mac    # macOS (.dmg + .zip for x64 and arm64)
npm run dist:linux  # Linux (.AppImage + .deb)

If you don't want to build executables, you can run directly:

# Development mode (with hot reload)
npm run dev

# Production mode
npm run build
npm start

The API will be available at http://localhost:8085/api/v1

• 🌐 Website: tantulabs-cascade.web.app
• 📦 GitHub: github.com/tantulabs/cascade-hardware-monitor
• 📖 API Docs: Run the app and visit /api-docs.html
• 🐛 Issues: GitHub Issues

MIT License - See LICENSE for details.

Contributions are welcome! Please read our contributing guidelines before submitting PRs.

Made with ❤️ by TantuLabs