update readme

Wait for aggregate device ID to be valid

Package.resolved

@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "originHash" : "5f2b81278809343fed36ed8c17e7d6930bfd5b85261cdf5dadb17ab7ffdfc0e3",
-  "pins" : [
-    {
-      "identity" : "swift-argument-parser",
-      "kind" : "remoteSourceControl",
-      "location" : "https://github.com/apple/swift-argument-parser.git",
-      "state" : {
-        "revision" : "011f0c765fb46d9cac61bca19be0527e99c98c8b",
-        "version" : "1.5.1"
-      }
-    }
-  ],
-  "version" : 3
-}

Package.swift

@@ -8,17 +8,11 @@ let package = Package(
     platforms: [
         .macOS("14.2")
     ],
-    dependencies: [
-        .package(url: "https://github.com/apple/swift-argument-parser.git", from: "1.3.0")
-    ],
     targets: [
-        // Targets are the basic building blocks of a package, defining a module or a test suite.
-        // Targets can depend on other targets in this package and products from dependencies.
         .executableTarget(
             name: "audiotee",
-            dependencies: [
+            swiftSettings: [
-                .product(name: "ArgumentParser", package: "swift-argument-parser")
+                .define("ENABLE_TCC_SPI")
-            ]
+            ])
-        )
     ]
 )

README.md

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 # AudioTee
 
-AudioTee captures your Mac's system audio output and writes PCM encoded chunks of it to `stdout` at regular intervals, either in base64-encoded JSON (good for humans, easy on terminals) or binary (good for other programs). It uses the [Core Audio taps](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreaudio/capturing-system-audio-with-core-audio-taps) API introduced in macOS 14.2 (released in December 2023). You can do whatever you want with this audio - stream it somewhere else, save it to disk, visualize it, etc.
+AudioTee captures your Mac's system audio output and writes it in PCM encoded chunks to `stdout` at regular intervals, either in base64-encoded JSON (good for humans, easy on terminals) or binary (good for other programs). It uses the [Core Audio taps](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreaudio/capturing-system-audio-with-core-audio-taps) API introduced in macOS 14.2 (released in December 2023). You can do whatever you want with this audio - stream it somewhere else, save it to disk, visualize it, etc.
 
-By default, it taps the audio output from **all** running process and selects the most appropriate audio chunk output format to use based on the presence of a tty. Tap output is forced to `mono` (not configurable) and preserves your output device's sample rate unless you pass a `--sample-rate` flag. Only the default output device is currently supported.
+By default, it taps the audio output from **all** running process and selects the most appropriate audio chunk output format to use based on the presence of a tty. Tap output is forced to `mono` (not yet configurable) and preserves your output device's sample rate (configurable via the `--sample-rate` flag). Only the default output device is currently supported.
 
 My original (and so far only) use case is streaming audio to a parent process which communicates with a realtime ASR service, so AudioTee makes some design decisions you might not agree with. Open an issue or a PR and we can talk about them. I'm also no Swift developer, so contributions improving codebase idioms and general hygiene are welcome.
 
-Recording system audio is harder than it should be on macOS, and folks often wrestle with outdated advice and poorly documented APIs. It's a boring problem which stands in the way of lots of fun applications. There's more code here than you need to solve this problem yourself: the main classes of interest are probably `Core/AudioTapManager` and `Core/AudioRecorder`. Everything's wired together in `CLI/AudioTee`. The rest is just CLI configuration support, output formatting logic, and some utility functions you could probably live without.
+Recording system audio is harder than it should be on macOS, and folks often wrestle with outdated advice and poorly documented APIs. It's a boring problem which stands in the way of lots of fun applications. There's more code here than you need to solve this problem yourself: the main classes of interest are probably [`Core/AudioTapManager`](https://github.com/makeusabrew/audiotee/blob/main/Sources/Core/AudioTapManager.swift) and [`Core/AudioRecorder`](https://github.com/makeusabrew/audiotee/blob/main/Sources/Core/AudioRecorder.swift). Everything's wired together in [`CLI/AudioTee`](https://github.com/makeusabrew/audiotee/blob/main/Sources/CLI/AudioTee.swift). The rest is just CLI configuration support, output formatting logic, and some utility functions you could probably live without.
 
 ## Requirements
 
@@ -16,12 +16,16 @@ Recording system audio is harder than it should be on macOS, and folks often wre
 
 ## Quick start
 
+The following will start capturing audio output from all running programs and write base64-encoded chunks of it to your terminal every 200ms:
+
 ```bash
 git clone git@github.com:makeusabrew/audiotee.git
 cd audiotee
 swift run
 ```
 
+If you're not playing audio when you run it, you'll just see packets full of `AAAAA...` - the base64 version of a bunch of zeroes.
+
 ## Build
 
 ```bash
@@ -48,6 +52,9 @@ Replace the path below with `.build/<arch>/<target>/audiotee`, e.g. `build/arm64
 
 ### Audio conversion
 
+Note that performing sample rate conversion will also convert the output bit depth to
+16-bit - assuming an original depth of 32-bit this results in a loss of dynamic range in exchange for half the output chunk size. For ASR services, 16-bit is sufficient, but in any case it's a behaviour worth being aware of.
+
 ```bash
 # Convert to 16kHz mono (useful for ASR services)
 ./audiotee --sample-rate 16000
@@ -60,6 +67,8 @@ Replace the path below with `.build/<arch>/<target>/audiotee`, e.g. `build/arm64
 
 For now, only a subset of the `CATapDescription` (https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreaudio/capturing-system-audio-with-core-audio-taps) interface is exposed. PRs welcome.
 
+Note that trying to include or exclude a PID which isn't currently playing audio will probably fail to convert to an Audio Object and will cause the process to exit.
+
 ```bash
 # Tap all system audio (default)
 ./audiotee
@@ -234,13 +243,35 @@ Info, error, and debug messages (useful for monitoring):
 
 ## Permissions
 
-There is no provision in the code to pre-emptively check for the required `NSAudioCaptureUsageDescription` permission,
+AudioTee requires system audio recording permissions to function. You can handle these permissions in two ways:
-so you'll be prompted the first time AudioTee tries to record anything. If you want to check and/or request permissions ahead of time, check out [AudioCap's clever TCC probing approach](https://github.com/insidegui/AudioCap/blob/main/AudioCap/ProcessTap/AudioRecordingPermission.swift).
+
+### Lazy permissions (default approach)
+
+Simply run `./audiotee` and you'll be prompted for permissions the first time AudioTee tries to record audio from the tap. Note that some terminal emulators (at least `iTerm`) will **not** prompt at all, nor will the process fail: instead, AudioTee will happily run but will record a stream of empty data. The built in macOS terminal **does** prompt for permissions and blocks until granted.
+
+### Explicit permissions management
+
+Use the `--permissions` flag to check or request permissions ahead of time:
+
+```bash
+# Check current permission status
+./audiotee --permissions
+
+# Request permissions with user prompt
+./audiotee --permissions --request
+```
+
+Note that the same caveat as above exists here regarding terminal emulators. If you know why, or how to fix it, please help out.
+
+**Exit codes** indicate permission status, making this approach ideal for scripting:
+- `0`: Permissions granted
+- `1`: Permission status unknown  
+- `2`: Permissions denied
 
 ## References
 
 - [Apple Core Audio Taps Documentation](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreaudio/capturing-system-audio-with-core-audio-taps)
-- [AudioCap Implementation](https://github.com/insidegui/AudioCap)
+- [AudioCap Implementation](https://github.com/insidegui/AudioCap) - in particular, their awesome TCC probing approach to check for the audio capture permissions, which AudioTee lifts almost in its entirety. Thank you.
 
 ## License
 

Sources/CLI/ArgumentParser.swift

@@ -0,0 +1,234 @@
+import Foundation
+
+// MARK: - Error Types
+
+enum ArgumentParserError: Error, CustomStringConvertible {
+  case unknownOption(String)
+  case missingValue(String)
+  case invalidValue(String, String)
+  case validationFailed(String)
+  case helpRequested
+
+  var description: String {
+    switch self {
+    case .unknownOption(let option):
+      return "Unknown option: \(option)"
+    case .missingValue(let option):
+      return "Missing value for option: \(option)"
+    case .invalidValue(let option, let value):
+      return "Invalid value '\(value)' for option: \(option)"
+    case .validationFailed(let message):
+      return message
+    case .helpRequested:
+      return ""  // Help is handled separately
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+// MARK: - Argument Configuration
+
+struct ArgumentConfig {
+  let name: String
+  let shortName: String?
+  let help: String
+  let isFlag: Bool
+  let isArray: Bool
+  let defaultValue: String?
+
+  init(
+    name: String, shortName: String? = nil, help: String, isFlag: Bool = false,
+    isArray: Bool = false, defaultValue: String? = nil
+  ) {
+    self.name = name
+    self.shortName = shortName
+    self.help = help
+    self.isFlag = isFlag
+    self.isArray = isArray
+    self.defaultValue = defaultValue
+  }
+}
+
+// MARK: - Simple Argument Parser
+
+class SimpleArgumentParser {
+  private let programName: String
+  private let abstract: String
+  private let discussion: String
+  private var configs: [ArgumentConfig] = []
+  private var parsedValues: [String: [String]] = [:]
+
+  init(programName: String, abstract: String, discussion: String = "") {
+    self.programName = programName
+    self.abstract = abstract
+    self.discussion = discussion
+  }
+
+  func addOption(name: String, shortName: String? = nil, help: String, defaultValue: String? = nil)
+  {
+    configs.append(
+      ArgumentConfig(name: name, shortName: shortName, help: help, defaultValue: defaultValue))
+  }
+
+  func addArrayOption(name: String, shortName: String? = nil, help: String) {
+    configs.append(ArgumentConfig(name: name, shortName: shortName, help: help, isArray: true))
+  }
+
+  func addFlag(name: String, shortName: String? = nil, help: String) {
+    configs.append(ArgumentConfig(name: name, shortName: shortName, help: help, isFlag: true))
+  }
+
+  func parse(_ arguments: [String] = Array(CommandLine.arguments.dropFirst())) throws {
+    var i = 0
+
+    while i < arguments.count {
+      let arg = arguments[i]
+
+      if arg == "--help" || arg == "-h" {
+        throw ArgumentParserError.helpRequested
+      }
+
+      guard arg.hasPrefix("-") else {
+        throw ArgumentParserError.unknownOption(arg)
+      }
+
+      let optionName = findOptionName(arg)
+      guard let config = findConfig(optionName) else {
+        throw ArgumentParserError.unknownOption(arg)
+      }
+
+      if config.isFlag {
+        parsedValues[config.name] = ["true"]
+        i += 1
+      } else {
+        // Need a value
+        i += 1
+        guard i < arguments.count else {
+          throw ArgumentParserError.missingValue(arg)
+        }
+
+        if config.isArray {
+          // Collect all values until next option or end
+          var values: [String] = []
+          while i < arguments.count && !arguments[i].hasPrefix("-") {
+            values.append(arguments[i])
+            i += 1
+          }
+          if values.isEmpty {
+            throw ArgumentParserError.missingValue(arg)
+          }
+          parsedValues[config.name] = values
+        } else {
+          let value = arguments[i]
+          parsedValues[config.name] = [value]
+          i += 1
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Set default values for missing options
+    for config in configs {
+      if parsedValues[config.name] == nil, let defaultValue = config.defaultValue {
+        parsedValues[config.name] = [defaultValue]
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  private func findOptionName(_ arg: String) -> String {
+    if arg.hasPrefix("--") {
+      return String(arg.dropFirst(2))
+    } else if arg.hasPrefix("-") {
+      return String(arg.dropFirst(1))
+    }
+    return arg
+  }
+
+  private func findConfig(_ optionName: String) -> ArgumentConfig? {
+    return configs.first { config in
+      config.name == optionName || config.shortName == optionName
+    }
+  }
+
+  func getValue<T>(_ name: String, as type: T.Type) throws -> T {
+    guard let values = parsedValues[name], let value = values.first else {
+      throw ArgumentParserError.missingValue(name)
+    }
+
+    return try convertValue(value, to: type, optionName: name)
+  }
+
+  func getOptionalValue<T>(_ name: String, as type: T.Type) throws -> T? {
+    guard let values = parsedValues[name], let value = values.first else {
+      return nil
+    }
+
+    return try convertValue(value, to: type, optionName: name)
+  }
+
+  func getArrayValue<T>(_ name: String, as type: T.Type) throws -> [T] {
+    guard let values = parsedValues[name] else {
+      return []
+    }
+
+    return try values.map { try convertValue($0, to: type, optionName: name) }
+  }
+
+  func getFlag(_ name: String) -> Bool {
+    return parsedValues[name]?.first == "true"
+  }
+
+  private func convertValue<T>(_ value: String, to type: T.Type, optionName: String) throws -> T {
+    if type == String.self {
+      return value as! T
+    } else if type == Int32.self {
+      guard let intValue = Int32(value) else {
+        throw ArgumentParserError.invalidValue(optionName, value)
+      }
+      return intValue as! T
+    } else if type == Double.self {
+      guard let doubleValue = Double(value) else {
+        throw ArgumentParserError.invalidValue(optionName, value)
+      }
+      return doubleValue as! T
+    } else if type == OutputFormat.self {
+      guard let format = OutputFormat(rawValue: value) else {
+        throw ArgumentParserError.invalidValue(optionName, value)
+      }
+      return format as! T
+    }
+
+    throw ArgumentParserError.invalidValue(optionName, value)
+  }
+
+  func printHelp() {
+    print(abstract)
+
+    if !discussion.isEmpty {
+      print("\n\(discussion)")
+    }
+
+    print("\nUSAGE:")
+    print("    \(programName) [OPTIONS]")
+
+    let optionConfigs = configs.filter { !$0.isFlag }
+    let flagConfigs = configs.filter { $0.isFlag }
+
+    if !optionConfigs.isEmpty {
+      print("\nOPTIONS:")
+      for config in optionConfigs {
+        let shortName = config.shortName.map { "-\($0), " } ?? ""
+        let defaultDesc = config.defaultValue.map { " (default: \($0))" } ?? ""
+        print("    \(shortName)--\(config.name)    \(config.help)\(defaultDesc)")
+      }
+    }
+
+    if !flagConfigs.isEmpty {
+      print("\nFLAGS:")
+      for config in flagConfigs {
+        let shortName = config.shortName.map { "-\($0), " } ?? ""
+        print("    \(shortName)--\(config.name)    \(config.help)")
+      }
+    }
+
+    print("\n    -h, --help    Show this help message")
+  }
+}

Sources/CLI/AudioTee.swift

@@ -1,13 +1,29 @@
-import ArgumentParser
 import CoreAudio
 import Foundation
 
-struct AudioTee: ParsableCommand {
+struct AudioTee {
-  static let configuration = CommandConfiguration(
+  var format: OutputFormat = .auto
+  var includeProcesses: [Int32] = []
+  var excludeProcesses: [Int32] = []
+  var mute: Bool = false
+  var sampleRate: Double?
+  var chunkDuration: Double = 0.2
+  var permissionsMode: Bool = false
+  var requestPermissions: Bool = false
+
+  init() {}
+
+  static func main() {
+    let parser = SimpleArgumentParser(
+      programName: "audiotee",
       abstract: "Capture system audio and stream to stdout",
       discussion: """
         AudioTee captures system audio using Core Audio taps and streams it as structured output.
 
+        Permission modes:
+        • --permissions: Check current audio recording permissions
+        • --permissions --request: Request audio recording permissions
+
         Output formats:
         • json: Base64-encoded audio in JSON messages (safe for terminals)
         • binary: Raw binary audio with JSON metadata headers (efficient for pipes)
@@ -19,6 +35,8 @@ struct AudioTee: ParsableCommand {
         • mute: How to handle processes being tapped
 
         Examples:
+          audiotee --permissions                # Check audio recording permissions
+          audiotee --permissions --request      # Request audio recording permissions
           audiotee                              # Auto format, tap all processes
           audiotee --format=json                # Always use JSON format
           audiotee --format=binary              # Always use binary format
@@ -31,37 +49,80 @@ struct AudioTee: ParsableCommand {
         """
     )
 
-  @Option(name: .shortAndLong, help: "Output format")
+    // Configure arguments
-  var format: OutputFormat = .auto
+    parser.addFlag(name: "permissions", help: "Check audio recording permissions")
-
+    parser.addFlag(name: "request", help: "Request permissions (use with --permissions)")
-  @Option(
+    parser.addOption(name: "format", shortName: "f", help: "Output format", defaultValue: "auto")
-    name: .long, help: "Process IDs to include (space-separated, empty = all processes)")
+    parser.addArrayOption(
-  var includeProcesses: [Int32] = []
+      name: "include-processes",
-
+      help: "Process IDs to include (space-separated, empty = all processes)")
-  @Option(
+    parser.addArrayOption(
-    name: .long, help: "Process IDs to exclude (space-separated)")
+      name: "exclude-processes", help: "Process IDs to exclude (space-separated)")
-  var excludeProcesses: [Int32] = []
+    parser.addFlag(name: "mute", help: "Mute processes being tapped")
-
+    parser.addOption(
-  @Flag(name: .long, help: "Mute processes being tapped")
+      name: "sample-rate",
-  var mute: Bool = false
-
-  @Option(
-    name: .long,
       help: "Target sample rate (8000, 16000, 22050, 24000, 32000, 44100, 48000)")
-  var sampleRate: Double?
+    parser.addOption(
+      name: "chunk-duration", help: "Audio chunk duration in seconds", defaultValue: "0.2")
 
-  @Option(
+    // Parse arguments
-    name: .long,
+    do {
-    help: "Audio chunk duration in seconds (default: 0.2)")
+      try parser.parse()
-  var chunkDuration: Double = 0.2
+
+      var audioTee = AudioTee()
+
+      // Extract values
+      audioTee.permissionsMode = parser.getFlag("permissions")
+      audioTee.requestPermissions = parser.getFlag("request")
+      audioTee.format = try parser.getValue("format", as: OutputFormat.self)
+      audioTee.includeProcesses = try parser.getArrayValue("include-processes", as: Int32.self)
+      audioTee.excludeProcesses = try parser.getArrayValue("exclude-processes", as: Int32.self)
+      audioTee.mute = parser.getFlag("mute")
+      audioTee.sampleRate = try parser.getOptionalValue("sample-rate", as: Double.self)
+      audioTee.chunkDuration = try parser.getValue("chunk-duration", as: Double.self)
+
+      // Validate
+      try audioTee.validate()
+
+      // Run
+      try audioTee.run()
+
+    } catch ArgumentParserError.helpRequested {
+      parser.printHelp()
+      exit(0)
+    } catch ArgumentParserError.validationFailed(let message) {
+      print("Error: \(message)", to: &standardError)
+      exit(1)
+    } catch let error as ArgumentParserError {
+      print("Error: \(error.description)", to: &standardError)
+      parser.printHelp()
+      exit(1)
+    } catch {
+      print("Error: \(error)", to: &standardError)
+      exit(1)
+    }
+  }
 
   func validate() throws {
     if !includeProcesses.isEmpty && !excludeProcesses.isEmpty {
-      throw ValidationError("Cannot specify both --include-processes and --exclude-processes")
+      throw ArgumentParserError.validationFailed(
+        "Cannot specify both --include-processes and --exclude-processes")
+    }
+
+    if requestPermissions && !permissionsMode {
+      throw ArgumentParserError.validationFailed(
+        "--request can only be used with --permissions")
     }
   }
 
   func run() throws {
+    // Handle permissions mode
+    if permissionsMode {
+      let permissionsHandler = PermissionsHandler(shouldRequest: requestPermissions)
+      permissionsHandler.handle()  // This will exit with appropriate code
+    }
+
+    // Continue with normal audio tapping functionality
     setupSignalHandlers()
 
     Logger.info("Starting AudioTee...")
@@ -159,3 +220,27 @@ struct AudioTee: ParsableCommand {
     }
   }
 }
+
+// Helper for stderr output
+var standardError = FileHandle.standardError
+
+extension FileHandle: @retroactive TextOutputStream {
+  public func write(_ string: String) {
+    let data = Data(string.utf8)
+    self.write(data)
+  }
+}
+
+// Exit code handling
+enum ExitCode: Error {
+  case failure
+}
+
+extension ExitCode {
+  var code: Int32 {
+    switch self {
+    case .failure:
+      return 1
+    }
+  }
+}

Sources/CLI/OutputFormat.swift

@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
-import ArgumentParser
+enum OutputFormat: String, CaseIterable {
-
-enum OutputFormat: String, CaseIterable, ExpressibleByArgument {
   case json = "json"
   case binary = "binary"
   case auto = "auto"

Sources/CLI/PermissionsHandler.swift

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+import CoreFoundation
+import Foundation
+
+/// Handles audio recording permissions for the CLI, including checking status and requesting permissions.
+/// Uses exit codes to communicate permission status:
+/// - 0: granted (authorized)
+/// - 1: unknown
+/// - 2: denied
+struct PermissionsHandler {
+  private let shouldRequest: Bool
+
+  init(shouldRequest: Bool) {
+    self.shouldRequest = shouldRequest
+  }
+
+  /// Handles the permissions workflow and exits with appropriate exit code
+  func handle() -> Never {
+    let permissionHandler = AudioRecordingPermission()
+
+    if shouldRequest {
+      print("Requesting audio recording permissions...")
+      permissionHandler.request()
+
+      // Wait for the permission request to complete
+      while permissionHandler.status == .unknown {
+        // Run the main run loop to allow DispatchQueue.main.async to execute
+        let result = CFRunLoopRunInMode(CFRunLoopMode.defaultMode, 0.1, true)
+        if result == CFRunLoopRunResult.stopped || result == CFRunLoopRunResult.finished {
+          break
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Get final status and exit with appropriate code
+    let status = permissionHandler.status
+    print("Audio recording permission status: \(status.rawValue)")
+
+    switch status {
+    case .authorized:
+      exit(0)  // granted
+    case .unknown:
+      exit(1)  // unknown
+    case .denied:
+      exit(2)  // denied
+    }
+  }
+}

Sources/CLI/TapMuteBehavior.swift

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-import ArgumentParser
 import CoreAudio
 
-public enum TapMuteBehavior: String, CaseIterable, ExpressibleByArgument {
+public enum TapMuteBehavior: String, CaseIterable {
   case unmuted = "unmuted"
   case muted = "muted"
 

Sources/Core/AudioFormatConverter.swift

@@ -56,11 +56,6 @@ public class AudioFormatConverter {
   public func transform(_ packet: AudioPacket) -> AudioPacket {
     let inputData = packet.rawAudioData
 
-    // Short-circuit if no conversion needed
-    if sourceFormat.sampleRate == targetFormat.sampleRate {
-      return packet
-    }
-
     // Calculate frame counts
     let inputFrameCount =
       inputData.count / Int(sourceFormat.streamDescription.pointee.mBytesPerFrame)

Sources/Core/AudioFormatManager.swift

@@ -4,6 +4,42 @@ import Foundation
 
 public class AudioFormatManager {
   public static func getDeviceFormat(deviceID: AudioObjectID) -> AudioStreamBasicDescription {
+    // First, wait for the device to become alive/ready
+    let deviceReadyTimeout = 2.0  // 2 seconds max wait
+    let pollInterval = 0.1  // 100ms poll interval
+    let maxPolls = Int(deviceReadyTimeout / pollInterval)
+
+    Logger.debug(
+      "Waiting for audio device to become ready", context: ["device_id": String(deviceID)])
+
+    // Poll device readiness
+    for poll in 1...maxPolls {
+      if isAudioDeviceValid(deviceID) {
+        Logger.debug(
+          "Audio device is ready", context: ["device_id": String(deviceID), "polls": String(poll)])
+        break
+      }
+
+      if poll == maxPolls {
+        Logger.info(
+          "Device did not become ready within timeout, proceeding anyway",
+          context: [
+            "device_id": String(deviceID),
+            "timeout_seconds": String(deviceReadyTimeout),
+          ])
+        break
+      }
+
+      Logger.info("------- not ready; retrying...")
+
+      Thread.sleep(forTimeInterval: pollInterval)
+    }
+
+    // Now attempt to get the stream format with limited retries
+    let maxRetries = 3  // Reduced since device should be ready
+    let retryDelayMs = 20  // Shorter delay since we've already waited for readiness
+
+    for attempt in 1...maxRetries {
       var propertyAddress = getPropertyAddress(
         selector: kAudioDevicePropertyStreamFormat,
         scope: kAudioDevicePropertyScopeInput)
@@ -12,11 +48,37 @@ public class AudioFormatManager {
       let status = AudioObjectGetPropertyData(
         deviceID, &propertyAddress, 0, nil, &propertySize, &streamFormat)
 
-    guard status == noErr else {
+      if status == noErr {
-      fatalError("Failed to get stream format: \(status)")
+        Logger.debug("Successfully retrieved device format", context: ["attempt": String(attempt)])
+        return streamFormat
       }
 
-    return streamFormat
+      Logger.info(
+        "------- Failed to get stream format after device ready check, retrying...",
+        context: [
+          "attempt": String(attempt),
+          "max_retries": String(maxRetries),
+          "status": String(status),
+          "device_id": String(deviceID),
+        ])
+
+      // Don't delay on the last attempt
+      if attempt < maxRetries {
+        Thread.sleep(forTimeInterval: Double(retryDelayMs) / 1000.0)
+      }
+    }
+
+    // If all attempts failed after device readiness confirmation, this is a genuine error
+    Logger.error(
+      "Failed to get device format after device readiness check and retries",
+      context: [
+        "device_id": String(deviceID),
+        "device_was_ready": "true",
+      ])
+
+    fatalError(
+      "Failed to get stream format from ready device: \(deviceID). This indicates a Core Audio subsystem error."
+    )
   }
 
   static func createMetadata(for format: AudioStreamBasicDescription) -> AudioStreamMetadata {

Sources/Permissions/AudioRecordingPermission.swift

@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+import OSLog
+import Observation
+import SwiftUI
+
+// Adapted with a huge debt of gratitude from https://github.com/insidegui/AudioCap/blob/main/AudioCap/ProcessTap/AudioRecordingPermission.swift
+
+/// Uses TCC SPI in order to check/request system audio recording permission.
+@Observable
+final class AudioRecordingPermission {
+  // private let logger = Logger(subsystem: kAppSubsystem, category: String(describing: AudioRecordingPermission.self))
+
+  enum Status: String {
+    case unknown
+    case denied
+    case authorized
+  }
+
+  private(set) var status: Status = .unknown
+
+  init() {
+    #if ENABLE_TCC_SPI
+      NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
+        forName: NSApplication.didBecomeActiveNotification, object: nil, queue: .main
+      ) { [weak self] _ in
+        guard let self else { return }
+        self.updateStatus()
+      }
+
+      updateStatus()
+    #else
+      status = .authorized
+    #endif  // ENABLE_TCC_SPI
+  }
+
+  func request() {
+    #if ENABLE_TCC_SPI
+      // logger.debug(#function)
+      print("DEBUG: TCC SPI request called")
+
+      guard let request = Self.requestSPI else {
+        // logger.fault("Request SPI missing")
+        print("DEBUG: Request SPI is nil - TCC framework loading failed")
+        return
+      }
+
+      print("DEBUG: Calling TCC request function...")
+      request("kTCCServiceAudioCapture" as CFString, nil) { [weak self] granted in
+        guard let self else { return }
+
+        // self.logger.info("Request finished with result: \(granted, privacy: .public)")
+        print("DEBUG: TCC request completed with result: \(granted)")
+
+        DispatchQueue.main.async {
+          print("DEBUG: Updating status on main queue...")
+          if granted {
+            self.status = .authorized
+            print("DEBUG: Status set to authorized")
+          } else {
+            self.status = .denied
+            print("DEBUG: Status set to denied")
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    #else
+      print("DEBUG: ENABLE_TCC_SPI not defined")
+    #endif  // ENABLE_TCC_SPI
+  }
+
+  private func updateStatus() {
+    #if ENABLE_TCC_SPI
+      // logger.debug(#function)
+
+      guard let preflight = Self.preflightSPI else {
+        // logger.fault("Preflight SPI missing")
+        return
+      }
+
+      let result = preflight("kTCCServiceAudioCapture" as CFString, nil)
+
+      if result == 1 {
+        status = .denied
+      } else if result == 0 {
+        status = .authorized
+      } else {
+        status = .unknown
+      }
+    #endif  // ENABLE_TCC_SPI
+  }
+
+  #if ENABLE_TCC_SPI
+    private typealias PreflightFuncType = @convention(c) (CFString, CFDictionary?) -> Int
+    private typealias RequestFuncType = @convention(c) (
+      CFString, CFDictionary?, @escaping (Bool) -> Void
+    ) -> Void
+
+    /// `dlopen` handle to the TCC framework.
+    private static let apiHandle: UnsafeMutableRawPointer? = {
+      let tccPath = "/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/TCC.framework/Versions/A/TCC"
+      print("DEBUG: Attempting to load TCC framework from: \(tccPath)")
+
+      guard let handle = dlopen(tccPath, RTLD_NOW) else {
+        print("DEBUG: dlopen failed for TCC framework")
+        assertionFailure("dlopen failed")
+        return nil
+      }
+
+      print("DEBUG: TCC framework loaded successfully")
+      return handle
+    }()
+
+    /// `dlsym` function handle for `TCCAccessPreflight`.
+    private static let preflightSPI: PreflightFuncType? = {
+      guard let apiHandle else { return nil }
+
+      let fnName = "TCCAccessPreflight"
+
+      guard let funcSym = dlsym(apiHandle, fnName) else {
+        assertionFailure("Couldn't find symbol")
+        return nil
+      }
+
+      let fn = unsafeBitCast(funcSym, to: PreflightFuncType.self)
+
+      return fn
+    }()
+
+    /// `dlsym` function handle for `TCCAccessRequest`.
+    private static let requestSPI: RequestFuncType? = {
+      guard let apiHandle else {
+        print("DEBUG: No API handle for TCCAccessRequest")
+        return nil
+      }
+
+      let fnName = "TCCAccessRequest"
+      print("DEBUG: Looking for symbol: \(fnName)")
+
+      guard let funcSym = dlsym(apiHandle, fnName) else {
+        print("DEBUG: Couldn't find symbol: \(fnName)")
+        assertionFailure("Couldn't find symbol")
+        return nil
+      }
+
+      print("DEBUG: Found TCCAccessRequest symbol successfully")
+      let fn = unsafeBitCast(funcSym, to: RequestFuncType.self)
+
+      return fn
+    }()
+  #endif  // ENABLE_TCC_SPI
+}

Sources/main.swift

@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import ArgumentParser
 import AudioToolbox
 import Foundation