Show HN: KeyGhost – Keyboard app launcher for macOS
7 hours ago
- #productivity
- #macOS
- #keyboard-shortcuts
- KeyGhost is a macOS menu-bar app that transforms any key (Caps Lock, F-keys, Right Option) into a launcher for apps and actions.
- It works by monitoring the HID usage code of the trigger key at a low level, ensuring compatibility with tools like Hyperkey and Karabiner.
- Users can bind letters to launch apps or URLs, and some keys can be marked as passthrough to forward modified key events.
- A translucent keyboard overlay appears when the trigger key is held, displaying live app icons from NSWorkspace.
- Bindings support up to five actions per key: one root action and four sub-actions via arrow directions for nested menus.
- The app is built with pure Swift and SwiftUI, uses CGEventTap for chord detection, and requires no helper daemons or Electron.
- Installation involves downloading a signed DMG, moving to Applications, and granting Accessibility and Input Monitoring permissions.
- Development options include running from source with Xcode 15+, building via scripts, or editing bindings in a JSON file.