feat(electron): add macOS support with virtual microphone functionality

[jiangzhuo]

Problem Statement

Currently, the Sokuji Electron app only supports Linux platforms with PulseAudio/PipeWire for virtual audio device management. macOS users cannot utilize the desktop application's virtual microphone functionality, which is essential for real-time speech translation in video conferencing applications.

Current State

• ✅ Linux support with PulseAudio/PipeWire virtual audio devices
• ❌ No macOS support for virtual audio devices
• ❌ No macOS-specific audio routing implementation
• ❌ No macOS build configuration in forge.config.js

Proposed Solution

1. macOS Virtual Audio Device Implementation

Create a macOS-specific audio utility module (electron/coreaudio-utils.js) that implements:

• Virtual Audio Driver Integration: Utilize macOS Core Audio framework or third-party solutions like:

  • BlackHole - Open source virtual audio driver
  • SoundFlower - Legacy but still functional
  • VB-Audio Virtual Cable - Commercial solution

• Audio Routing Functions:

  • createVirtualAudioDevices() - Create virtual microphone and speaker devices
  • removeVirtualAudioDevices() - Clean up virtual devices
  • connectVirtualSpeakerToOutput() - Route virtual speaker to system output
  • disconnectVirtualSpeakerFromOutputs() - Disconnect virtual audio routing

2. Platform Detection and Abstraction

Update electron/main.js to:

• Detect macOS platform (process.platform === 'darwin')
• Load appropriate audio utility module based on platform
• Implement platform-specific cleanup handlers

3. Build Configuration Updates

Update forge.config.js to include macOS build targets:

makers: [
  {
    name: '@electron-forge/maker-zip',
    platforms: ['linux', 'darwin'], // Add macOS support
  },
  {
    name: '@electron-forge/maker-dmg', // Add DMG maker for macOS
    config: {
      options: {
        name: 'Sokuji',
        icon: 'assets/icon.icns'
      }
    }
  }
]

4. Dependencies and Requirements

• Add macOS-specific dependencies for audio device management
• Create installation scripts for required virtual audio drivers
• Update documentation with macOS setup instructions

Implementation Details

Core Audio Integration Options

Option A: BlackHole Integration

• Pros: Open source, actively maintained, easy installation
• Cons: Requires separate driver installation
• Implementation: Shell commands to check/install BlackHole, then use Core Audio APIs

Option B: Native Core Audio

• Pros: No external dependencies, full control
• Cons: Complex implementation, requires low-level Core Audio knowledge
• Implementation: Native Node.js addons or shell commands with SWAudioSession

Option C: Hybrid Approach

• Detect if BlackHole is installed, fall back to native Core Audio
• Provide user-friendly installation prompts

File Structure

electron/
├── main.js (updated with platform detection)
├── pulseaudio-utils.js (existing Linux implementation)
├── coreaudio-utils.js (new macOS implementation)
└── audio-utils.js (platform abstraction layer)

Acceptance Criteria

• macOS users can install and run Sokuji desktop app
• Virtual microphone device is created and available in system audio settings
• Virtual speaker device routes audio to system output
• Audio routing works with popular video conferencing apps (Zoom, Teams, etc.)
• Proper cleanup of virtual devices on app exit
• DMG installer for macOS distribution
• Updated documentation with macOS setup instructions
• Cross-platform compatibility maintained (existing Linux functionality unaffected)

Additional Considerations

Security and Permissions

• macOS may require microphone permissions for virtual audio devices
• Code signing requirements for macOS distribution
• Notarization for macOS Gatekeeper compatibility

User Experience

• Automatic detection and installation prompts for required audio drivers
• Clear error messages for missing dependencies
• System tray integration for macOS (optional)

Testing Requirements

• Test on multiple macOS versions (10.15+)
• Verify compatibility with major video conferencing platforms
• Test audio quality and latency performance

Related Issues

This enhancement would significantly expand Sokuji's user base by supporting macOS users who need real-time speech translation capabilities in their video conferencing workflows.

Priority

High - macOS represents a significant portion of the target user base for professional video conferencing and real-time translation needs.