Freenet

The macOS menu‑bar utility provides a lightweight interface for managing the Freenet (now Hyphanet) network client. It lets users start, stop, and monitor the underlying decentralized service without opening a full application window, offering quick access to status indicators and basic controls directly from the system bar.

Target users are individuals who run Freenet/Hyphanet on macOS and want an unobtrusive way to keep the network active, such as privacy‑concerned users, hobbyists, or developers who need frequent toggling of the service while working on other tasks.

What distinguishes this tool is its integration with the Freenet core on macOS, delivering a stable, menu‑driven control panel that mirrors the client’s functionality while remaining minimal in footprint. It is maintained as part of the broader Freenet/Hyphanet project, which focuses on decentralized publishing, microblogging, and file sharing with strong privacy guarantees.