Cadran

Cadran draws animated clock faces directly onto the macOS wallpaper layer, appearing behind desktop icons across all Spaces and displays. Users choose from 22 faces organized into categories such as Numeric, Analog, Data, Abstract, Matrix, and Spectrum, then set a background either from presets or by keeping the existing wallpaper. The app runs from the menu bar, launches at login, and offers a full‑screen screensaver mode when the system is idle.

The utility adapts clock colors to the underlying wallpaper, supports per‑monitor configurations, and includes optional complications that overlay live data like weather, date, battery level, and moon phase via Apple WeatherKit. It aims for minimal resource usage, with low energy impact verified in Activity Monitor, and operates without telemetry or external accounts.

Cadran is a free macOS application (Apple Silicon and Intel) distributed via Homebrew Cask, notarized by Apple, and receives automatic background updates. It provides quick menu‑bar controls for face switching, color palettes, and background adaptation, making it a lightweight, privacy‑first option for users who want a persistent desktop clock.