Breathe CLI – Paced resonance breathing in the macOS terminal

I built a terminal app that paces slow breathing at 6 breaths per minute for vagal tone training. It's a single Python file, stdlib only, no dependencies — just run breathe and follow the bar.I'm a cardiology patient (HFrEF). Slow breathing at resonance frequency is one of the few non-pharmacological interventions shown to improve cardiac vagal tone and baroreflex sensitivity (Bernardi et al., Circulation 2002; Lancet 1998). I wanted a frictionless daily habit tool — no app store, no account, no subscription, just open terminal and go.Design constraints, all grounded in the clinical literature:- No breath retention — Valsalva risk in cardiac patients- No rapid breathing — minimum 8-second cycles- Exhale ≤ 2x inhale — no evidence for extreme ratios- Immediate exit, always — q or Ctrl+C restores the terminal even on crashThe README includes a resonance frequency measurement protocol for anyone with a chest-strap HRV monitor who wants to find their individual optimum instead of using the 6 bpm default.macOS only (uses afplay for audio cues). MIT licensed.pip install breathe-cliorbrew tap marekkowalczyk/breathe && brew install breathe.

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65

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A minimal macOS terminal app that guides users through paced resonance breathing to improve cardiac vagal tone without dependencies or friction.

The pain

Cardiac patients and health-conscious users need simple, low-friction tools to practice clinically supported slow breathing exercises that improve heart function and autonomic balance.

The gap

Existing breathing apps are often bloated, require accounts, subscriptions, or mobile devices, and may not be tailored to cardiac safety constraints or resonance frequency protocols.

Build angle

Leverage the simplicity and accessibility of the terminal environment to deliver a clinically grounded breathing tool with zero dependencies, focusing on cardiac patients and biohackers who want a no-friction, privacy-respecting solution.

Strengths

  • Clinically grounded design constraints tailored to cardiac safety
  • Extremely low friction: no accounts, no subscriptions, no app store
  • Open source and MIT licensed, encouraging trust and transparency
  • Simple installation via pip or Homebrew
  • Supports resonance frequency customization for advanced users

Risks

  • Limited to macOS, excluding a large potential user base on Windows/Linux/mobile
  • Terminal-based UI may intimidate or deter non-technical users
  • Niche market: primarily cardiac patients or biohackers familiar with HRV concepts
  • No direct monetization or clear business model
  • Unclear user retention or engagement without additional features or incentives

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