macbook-desktop-mode

# MacBook Desktop Mode A holistic configuration guide for running a MacBook as an always-on-AC desktop workstation. Solves two interconnected problems: USB devices (especially USB 1.1 audio) disappearing during sleep/wake cycles, and unnecessary battery degradation from constant charge cycling. > **Self-Evolving Skill**: This skill improves through use. If instructions are wrong, parameters drifted, or a workaround was needed — fix this file immediately, don't defer. Only update for real, reproducible issues. ## When to Use This Skill - USB microphone or audio device disappears after sleep/wake - Battery is cycling unnecessarily on a plugged-in Mac - Setting up a MacBook as a permanent desktop workstation - Configuring `pmset` for always-on-AC use - Setting up a powered USB hub with `uhubctl` for software-controlled USB resets - Enhancing the AudioDeviceMonitor Swift daemon with self-healing recovery ## Root Cause Diagnosis Framework Before applying fixes, diagnose the specific failure mode. This framework was developed from empirical analysis of a MacBook Pro M3 Max with an Antlion USB Microphone (VID `0x2F96`, PID `0x0200`). ### DarkWake Cycling macOS performs frequent DarkWake (partial maintenance wake) cycles — typically every 15 minutes overnight. During DarkWake: - CPU wakes for Power Nap, network keepalive, Siri - USB bus is partially powered but devices aren't fully re-enumerated - USB 1.1 Full Speed devices lack Link Power Management (LPM) and can't negotiat...