inFaux

The Modern, Native Hardware Monitor & Open Telemetry Server for Windows
Real telemetry. Faux drivers. Colloquially known as "info".
Crafted with care by FoxDen Software

"Microsoft basically went 'we can't agree what temp is correct, so you can have none without kernel drivers' unless you do this complicated-ass math."

---

⚡ TL;DR

• What it is: A fast, single-file Windows hardware monitor that lives in your system tray and serves a clean local telemetry API.
• Why it exists: Most PC monitoring tools force a terrible tradeoff - either sketchy 1990s kernel drivers (WinRing0.sys) that trip Windows Defender Core Isolation, or 800 MB corporate bloatware with accounts, stores, and background daemons.
• The inFaux way: Runs 100% in user space (asInvoker), requires zero administrator rights, and estimates CPU thermals using real Newtonian physics anchored to physical SSD & GPU diodes instead of vulnerable kernel hooks.
• Extras: Built-in Stream Deck companion, dynamic numeric taskbar tray icon, passive Bluetooth room/case thermometers (BTHome v2), and a local REST/WebSocket server for custom dashboards.

---

🚀 Quick Install & Downloads

Option 1: One-Line PowerShell Install

Run in any standard (non-elevated) PowerShell terminal:

irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/TalviFox/inFaux/main/install.ps1 | iex

Note

No Admin Privileges Needed: inFaux is 100% zero-driver and designed to run safely with standard user permissions (asInvoker). Do not run the installer as Administrator!

Option 2: Standalone Portable Binary

Prefer a standalone portable executable? Grab inFaux.exe directly:

• 📦 Download Latest inFaux Release
• 🗂️ View All Releases & Changelogs
• 🌐 Official Website & Web Documentation

---

✨ Features at a Glance

• 🛡️ 100% Driverless & Zero-UAC: Zero kernel drivers (.sys), zero background services, zero elevation prompts. Fully compatible with Windows 11 Core Isolation, Memory Integrity (HVCI), and Defender.
• 🌡️ Thermodynamic Observer: Real physics instead of driver exploits. Models processor thermal mass, Joule heating, and per-core thermal flux, anchored directly to physical NVMe SMART diodes and liquid cooler loops.
• 📡 Passive Bluetooth Telemetry (BTHome v2): Listens passively for open BLE environmental beacons (Shelly BLU H&T, ESPHome, ThermoBeacon) to track ambient room, case, and radiator exhaust temps with zero USB dongles.
• 🎮 Stream Deck Companion: Live hardware gauges on your desk with 1-click in-app installation, custom key renaming, and tap-to-cycle metrics.
• 🔢 Dynamic Numeric System Tray Icon: Renders live, high-legibility temperature numbers right onto your Windows taskbar, with automatic safety color escalation (amber/red).
• 🎨 Fox Coat Theme Engine: 6 curated themes: Silver Fox, Silver Fox OLED (True Black), Red Fox Ember, Arctic Fox Cyan, Arctic Fox Snow White, and Fennec Fox Amber.
• 🔌 Embedded Local API: Built-in REST and WebSocket server on http://127.0.0.1:8765 for Stream Deck, Rainmeter, Home Assistant, and custom dashboards.

---

📸 Visual Showcase

System Tray & Stream Deck Integration

---

📖 Detailed Technical Specification

Looking for the complete architectural breakdown, thermodynamic formulas, API schemas, or configuration tables? Everything is documented in depth:

👉 Read the Full Technical Specification (SPEC.md)

• Physics & Thermodynamics: Newton's law of cooling, IIR filter constants, storage diode anchoring, and cold plate modeling.
• Hardware Harvesters: NVML, AMD ADL, DXGI COM interop, SMART IOCTLs, and BTHome v2 BLE packet decoding.
• Local API Reference: Endpoint catalogue, curated snapshot schemas (GET /api/v1/summary), and WebSocket stream protocol.
• Configuration Reference: Complete %LOCALAPPDATA%\inFaux\config.json options.

---

🛠️ Building from Source

Prerequisites

• Windows 10 (Build 19041+) or Windows 11
• .NET 10.0 SDK

# Clone and build
git clone https://github.com/TalviFox/inFaux.git
cd inFaux
dotnet build -c Release

# Or publish a standalone single-file binary:
dotnet publish InFox.csproj -c Release -r win-x64 --self-contained true -p:PublishSingleFile=true -o publish

---

💡 Transparency & AI Disclosure

inFaux is developed with the assistance of AI coding tools. In the spirit of open development and personal accountability: I don't post what I don't run.

Every feature, script, and build is actively dogfooded, tested, and run on my daily-driver machines before it is published.

---

☕ Support the Project

inFaux is free, source-available, and 100% independent software. If inFaux saves you from bloated, driver-heavy monitoring utilities and you want to support continued development:

Every cup of coffee helps keep the project fast, driverless, and actively maintained!

---

🦊 FoxDen Software Suite

• inFaux: Modern, Native Hardware Monitor & Telemetry Server for Windows
• WireFox: Intelligent WireGuard Roaming Companion for Windows

_{Crafted with care by FoxDen Software}

---

Copyright © FoxDen Software. Distributed under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0.
Elgato and Stream Deck are registered trademarks of Corsair Memory, Inc. inFaux is an independent open-source project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Corsair or Elgato.