A super simple CLI utility for keeping your PC awake.

All it does is:

SetThreadExecutionState(ES_CONTINUOUS | ES_SYSTEM_REQUIRED);
Sleep(...);

The computer is prevented from sleeping for as long as the program remains running. The display/monitor is still allowed to turn off. SetThreadExecutionState docs here.

And because it is CLI only, it can be used from session 0 (ex: from SSH connection).

Download from the latest GitHub release (runs on 32 and 64bit):

• caffeinate.exe

Note: You may have to "unblock" the program after downloading: Right-click the exe file → Properties → Check "Unblock" at bottom right.

caffeinate.exe [duration] [--help]

The program will remain open and prevent sleep for the given duration, or forever if a duration is not given. Use SIGINT (ctrl+c), SIGHUP, SIGTERM, etc. to kill at any time.

• Duration may be a whole number with an optional unit, or the word forever.
• If duration is not given, forever is used.
• Valid units: s (seconds), m (minutes), h (hours)
• If a unit is not given, seconds is used.

Examples:

caffeinate.exe         # Forever
caffeinate.exe forever # Forever
caffeinate.exe 30      # 30 seconds
caffeinate.exe 30s     # 30 seconds
caffeinate.exe 120s    # 2 minutes
caffeinate.exe 2m      # 2 minutes
caffeinate.exe 36h     # 36 hours

Optional: Here is a small bash script for managing Caffeinate from WSL. Calling this script will kill all Caffeinate instances and start a new one in the background, thus ensuring only one is running and allowing you to reset or end the caffeinated duration.

• caff

Please modify to set the correct caffeinate.exe path and default duration as desired.

The interface nearly identical to caffeinate.exe, but the script may default the duration to a value other than forever. Also, if a duration of 0 is given, all Caffeinate instances are killed but a new one is not started.

• Caffeine - If you want a GUI and lots of features.
• Insomnia - If you want a simple GUI.

I created Caffeinate because I wanted a CLI solution that could be used from session 0. Specifically, to be able to keep my PC awake while SSH'ed into WSL.