CapsLockX is a modular hotkey script engine based on AutoHotkey. It allows you to operate your computer efficiently like a hacker in a movie without ever taking your hands off the keyboard. It comes packed with functions that are intuitive and easy to use: enhanced editing, virtual desktop and window management, mouse simulation, in-app hotkey enhancement, JS mathematical expression calculation, and many more multifunctional features are there for you to personally customize.
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CapsLockX is a modular hotkey script engine based on AutoHotkey. It makes it so you can effortlessly operate your computer with high efficiency like a hacker from the movies, without taking your hands off the keyboard. There are a lot of easy-to-learn and very user-friendly functions available: editing enhancement, virtual desktop and window management, mouse simulation, application-specific hotkey enhancement, JS mathematical expression calculation, and many other features await your personal customization. Main repository address 🏠: https://github.com/snolab/CapsLockX
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Simple Quick Start Tutorial (Completion of this section is considered the beginning of mastering CapsLockX)
CapsLockX has four core functions: window management, mouse emulation, arrow key emulation, and application-specific hotkeys. This beginner tutorial will teach you the first three core functions.
First, get CapsLockX: download this zip file: Download JSDelivrCDN - Release Package.zip
After unzipping, open CapsLockX.exe within the CapsLockX folder, get past the simple beginner tutorial, and then try out the following functions in the left and right-hand feature areas to understand the capabilities of CapsLockX.
Once CapsLockX is started, it will not affect the functionality of other keys on your keyboard. The following features are triggered only when you press CapsLockX + combination keys.
Left-hand feature area:
- Window management:
CapsLockX + 1234567890switches to thenth virtual desktop,CapsLockX + ZXCVfor window operations (window switching, window closing, window arranging, transparency top-most). - Mouse emulation function: Press
CapsLockX + WASDto move the mouse (as simple as moving a character while playing a game), pressCapsLockX + QEfor left and right mouse clicks,CapsLockX + RFfor scrolling up and down.
Right-hand feature area:
- Arrow key emulation: Open any text editor (such as Notepad), press
HJKLto move the cursor,YOUIto move the page
After familiarizing yourself with the basic features, consult the quick reference guide below for more advanced functionalities.
The source code package is the software itself, no need to compile, just unzip and use the green portable software. Source code + program package, the first one is recommended (the fastest).
- Download JSDelivrCDN - Release Package.zip
- Alternative Download CloudFlareCDN - Release Package.zip
- Alternative Download GitHub - Release Package.zip
- Alternative Download GitHub - Repository Program Package.zip
- Alternative Download BitBucket - Repository Program Package.zip
- Alternative Download for Mainland China Users - Gitee - Repository Program Package.zip (login required)
You can use it after unzipping. Methods to start and set to auto-start: Double-click CapsLockX.exe to start the script. To add a startup item, enter shell:startup in the start menu - run, then create a shortcut for this program, and throw it in.
Command Line Installation (recommended for advanced users, can be updated automatically) 🖥️ Install by command
Choose any of the following, the 4th one is recommended for users in mainland China
npx capslockx@latest, -- Directly run with NPX, always run the latest version, recommended (requires installation of NodeJS)choco update capslockx && capslockx-- Use Chocolatey to install and use cup for automatic updates, recommendednpm i -g capslockx && npx capslockx-- npm global installationgit clone https://gitee.com/snomiao/CapslockX && .\CapsLockX\CapsLockX.exe-- Mainland China source code package (green software package) unzip and use, recommended for mainland China usersgit clone https://github.com/snolab/CapsLockX && .\CapsLockX\CapsLockX.exe-- GitHub source code package (green software package) unzip and usewinget capslockx-- TODO #40scoop capslockx-- TODO #41
- Hold down
CapsLockXto enter CapsLockX mode, at which point your keyboard will become a functional keyboard like the default mode of Vim (see key positions below). - Press
CapsLockX+Spaceat the same time to lockCLXmode, whereCLXwill be maintained untilCapsLockXis pressed again next time. Origin of Function
CapsLockX by default loads some commonly used modules. The features and how to use them are listed below.
If you don't need certain modules, you can also directly delete the .ahk files in the ./Modules directory, and then press Ctrl + Alt + \ to reload.
You can also write your own my-ahk.user.ahk and put it in the ./User/ directory, and CapsLockX will automatically recognize and load them.
Typically, a set of tasks a user is currently performing will include multiple windows. These windows combined can constitute a usage scenario, while multiple scenarios are likely to run at the same time, and some of them will run for a long time, without interference. This will involve a lot of window arrangement and virtual desktop switching operations, in these aspects, using CLX to manage your windows will bring a terrifying efficiency improvement.
Below are some examples of scenario combinations: Suppose you can study, work on several different jobs, chat with friends, play games, listen to BGM in the background, and have a paused movie ready to watch with family in the evening.
- Virtual desktop 1: Planning scenario: Schedule window + Multi-platform sync notes, e.g.: Google Calendar + Notion + Gmail.
- Virtual desktop 2: Learning scenario: Book reading window, note-taking window, e.g.: OneNote + Calibre, etc.
- Virtual desktop 3: Work scenario 1 (Front-end Development): Code editing + Documentation querying + Browser, e.g.: Chrome(dev) + VSCode + stackoverflow, etc.
- Virtual desktop 4: Work scenario 2 (Back-end Development): Code editing + Documentation querying + Backend terminal + Database browser, e.g.: DBeaver + VSCode(+bash) + stackoverflow, etc.
- Virtual desktop 5: Work scenario 3 (Script Development): Code editing + Documentation querying + Script target, e.g.: VSCode(+bash) + stackoverflow etc.
- Virtual desktop 6: Work scenario 4 (3D Modeling and Rendering): 3D modeling software + Material searching, e.g.: Blender + Chrome.
- Virtual desktop 7: Work scenario 5 (3D Printing Slicing): Slicing software + Model searching window, e.g.: Cura + thingiverse
- Virtual desktop 7: Work scenario 6 (Video Processing): Editing + Material management, e.g.: PR + Everything.
- Virtual desktop 7: Work scenario 7 (Video Processing): Post-production + Documentation tutorial, e.g.: AE + Chrome.
- Virtual desktop 8: Writing scenario: Writing window, material referencing window, e.g.: Obsidian + Chrome (Google Scholar Index), etc.
- Virtual desktop 9: Communication scenario 1: Casual chats, e.g.: Telegram + Reddit + .
- Virtual desktop 9: Communication scenario 2: Work communication, e.g.: Slack + Skype + Gmail.
- Virtual desktop 9: Communication scenario 3: Presentation, e.g.: Google Meeting + (Vscode | Page application | Requirements document | Feedback document).
- Virtual desktop 0: Entertainment scenario 1: Playing games, e.g.: Age of Empires, Minecraft, Skyrim, Overcooked 2, etc.
- Virtual desktop 0: Entertainment scenario 3: Watching movies, listening to songs, e.g.: PotPlayer, Youtube Music, etc...
- ... More examples are welcome. Provide Issues or PRs for supplementation.
Snowstar does not recommend you handle too many tasks at the same time, but CapsLockX can save your thinking environment, greatly reducing the mental cost you incur during task switching, that is, saving you a lot of time rearranging windows and the resulting loss of attention.
(Note: If you like to handle many tasks at the same time, you might need not only a computer with not a small amount of memory but also a brain of significant capacity :D )
When switching windows with Alt+Tab, if there are too many windows, a two-dimensional window pre-arrangement display will show up. Generally speaking, Alt+Tab and Alt+Shift+Tab are purely left-handed keystrokes. If the user wants to select the window in the next line, they will instinctively press Alt+Tab many times. However, the directional keys used for two-dimensional operations are often ignored because the right hand is usually on the mouse or on the J key.
Also, users will continue to hold down the Alt key after releasing the Tab key to browse the windows and select the target window to switch to. In CLX, Alt+WASD will be used instead of the arrow keys to perform multiline window switching directly with the left hand, so there is no need to press Shift to go back to the left. Moreover, if a user needs to clean up or close multiple windows, they simply press Alt+X to batch clean multiple target windows while remaining within the window browsing interface.
In CLX, these features greatly improve the usability of Alt+Tab.
Click to expand TODO-docs
Each desktop has only one active focus window, and the virtual desktop can achieve automatic switching to the focus window of that virtual desktop when switching to it, achieving multiple task focuses (i.e., active windows).
Default window arrangement limitations in Windows 10:
- Not applicable to multiple desktops.
- Unnecessary window gaps are too large.
TODO: i3 Window Management
Two system-level solutions: Left-right top-bottom split screen, floating windows; Application level: floating components,
TODO Discussion on ThinkPad and Mac arrow keys, inspiration from VIM,
TODO: World perception of exponential growth, focus, auditory, visual, tactile, VS conventional linear operations
TODO: Document: Introduction to mouse simulation function, movement in RPG games
TODO: Application enhancement module introduction
TODO: FN key, arrow keys, editing operations, 61-key layout vs 87-key layout,
TODO Various types of chording TODO Calculation of information quantity increase with chording
If you want to learn how to develop plugins for CapsLockX, please:
- Open
Modules/@Help.ahk, where you can find the basic format of a CapsLockX plugin. - Make a copy of it and rename it to your own plugin name.
- Change its original features to the features you need, and your plugin development is done!
| Applies to | Hotkey | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Global | CapsLockX + / | Temporarily show hotkey tips |
| Global | CapsLockX + Alt + / | 🔗 Open the full documentation page for CapsLockX |
| Global | CapsLockX + Shift + / | 🕷 Submit |
If you want to learn how to develop plugins for CapsLockX, please:
- Open
Modules/@Help.ahk, where you can find the basic format of a CapsLockX plugin. - Make a copy of it and rename it to your own plugin name.
- Change its original features to the features you need, and your plugin development is done!
| Applies to | Hotkey | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Global | CapsLockX + / | Temporarily show hotkey tips |
| Global | CapsLockX + Alt + / | 🔗 Open the full documentation page for CapsLockX |
| Global | CapsLockX + Shift + / | 🕷 Submit |
Enhance keyboard operations for OneNote 2016 - 2019, conveniently use the keyboard to: change pens, create links, organize pages, adjust views...
- When making a journal entry, first add a date tag to the note's title with
Alt + T(for future search), then useWin + Shift + Nglobally to search for all notes with today's tag in OneNote, conveniently retrieving your today's: romance journal, training log, daily
| Applied to | Key Combination | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Global | Win + Alt + H | Start/Switch iFlytek Voice Input |
- If iFlytek Voice is not installed, it will automatically prompt to guide the download and installation.
Use AI-assisted input at any time, in any input box, by pressing CLX+b.
| Key Description | Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CLX + b | Copy selected content automatically, get AI support | |
| CLX + Alt + b | Configure activation code (Currently free plan) | |
| CLX + Shift + b | Check usage quota |
- Use Win+H to activate voice input inside any text box, and speak out what you want—it doesn’t have to be precise.
- Then select all and press
CLX+b, typeList key points and tasks, and AI will organize it for you.
Is there anything better than Vim's HJKL for moving the cursor? Absolutely a must-have! That's the smooth editing experience with acceleration-powered HJKL! Ever wanted to try a high-end maneuver where your cursor drifts around a corner like it's channeling water? Install this!
| Scope | Edit Module | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Global(Basic) | CapsLockX + h j k l |
A remedy for all kinds of broken notebook keyboards
- No right Ctrl key? Combine the Menu and Right Ctrl key – the Menu can act as Ctrl, or Ctrl can act as Menu.
- No Pause key? Win + Alt + P can also open the system settings info.
- To be added
| Mode | Keys | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Global | Win + Alt + P | Equivalent to Win + Pause, specially for laptops |
| Global | Tap Right Ctrl | It will tap the Menu key to pop up the menu |
| Global | Hold Right Menu | Will hold Ctrl, allowing combinations with other keys |
| Win Key Emulation | Hold ], press [ | Equivalent to pressing the Win key |
| Win Key Emulation | RAlt + | is equivalent to Alt+ |
| Applies to | Media Keys Module | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Global | CapsLockX + F1 |
Open: My Computer |
| Global | CapsLockX + F2 |
Open: Calculator |
| Global | CapsLockX + F3 |
Open: Web Browser Homepage |
| Global | CapsLockX + F4 |
Open: Media Library (defaults to Windows Media Player) |
| Global | CapsLockX + F5 |
Playback: Play/Pause |
| Global
I've always prided myself as a keyboard warrior, which probably started from the time I hurt my finger joints while modeling. I became a heavy user of the keyboard. Using various keyboard acceleration tools, actively memorizing various shortcut keys to minimize mouse usage, and even learning vim and emacs. However, there are many times when the mouse is irreplaceable, especially in the age of graphic interfaces.
—— The above is a passage from the author of SimClick Simulated Click, a work that simulates mouse clicks with a grid subdivision approach, and can complement this project.
—— Recommended by Jinwei Qin
- This module uses the key area: CapsLockX + QWER ASDF
- Use
| Applies to | Shortcut Key | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Global | CapsLockX + - |
Calculate the selected JavaScript expression and replace it |
| Global | CapsLockX + = |
Calculate the selected JavaScript expression and replace it |
Make good use of Windows 10’s own 10 virtual desktops with premium setup, automatic window arrangement for multi-monitors, translucent window pinning on top. (Note: Taskbar and AltTab related functions are currently incompatible with Win11, but window arrangement features work fine.)
- Window Switching:
CapsLockX + [Shift] + Z - Window Closing:
CapsLockX + [Shift] + X - Window Arrangement:
CapsLockX + [Shift] + C - Window Pinning:
CapsLockX + [Shift] + V - Left-Hand Window Management:
WASDfor window switching andXto close windows in theAlt + Tabinterface. - Efficient Virtual Desktop Usage:
CapsLockX + 0123456789
| Mode | Shortcut Input | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Global | #D# |
Date input: (20220217) |
| Global | #T# |
Time input: (20220217.220717) |
| Global | #DT# |
Date and time input: 2022-02-17 22:07:33 |
| Global | #NPW# |
Random input of numeric password like: 7500331260229288 |
| Global | #PW# |
Random input of alphanumeric password like: yyCTCNYodECTLr2h |
| Global | #WPW# |
Random input of alphanumeric password like: FtD5BB1m5H98eY7Y |
| Global | `#SPW |
A fixed 25-minute cycle for work with rest reminder.
Use CapsLockX + , to open the configuration, then change EnableScheduleTasks=1 to enable this plugin.
-
Use pomodoro time announcement (Play a work bell sound at 00 and 30 minutes, and a rest bell sound at 25 and 55 minutes of every hour) (Scheduled tasks need to be enabled first)
UseTomatoLife=1 -
When using pomodoro announcement, automatically switch desktops (During pomodoro announcement, the rest desktop is 1, and the work desktop is 2)
UseTomatoLifeSwitchVirtualDesktop=1
Note: If you only need the sound notification without the desktop switching, you might want to try this Chrome extension Tomato Life - Chrome Web Store
Further note: This plugin has been separated into an independent project. If you like the Pomodoro Technique, you can check out xuestar's tomato-life project here: [snom
When pressing Win + L to lock the screen, the monitor turns off immediately. This is useful for preparing to sleep by turning off the computer screen so it doesn't hurt your eyes while sleeping... When pressing Win + Alt + L the monitor turns off immediately. This is useful for preparing to sleep by turning off the computer screen so it doesn't hurt your eyes while sleeping...
I often write code… At first, I was used to using the mouse with my right hand... later I found it a bit far to put the mouse on the right... so I switched to using the mouse with my left hand. After switching to the left hand, I realized I still had to take it off the keyboard... so I made a script that simulates the mouse with the WASD keys. (Then I could keep playing with the computer with my right hand under my chin) Later I wrote more and more scripts and put some of the common ones together to load...
The core philosophy of CapsLockX is to simplify system operation logic, improve operation efficiency, and not conflict with existing habitual key positions.
- Press CapsLockX + - key to display corresponding help (the current display style is quite rough)
- i18n (eh this really should exist)
- Auto-update (although git pull is also fine)
- Tutorial for first-time users (this is a bit simple now...)
- Plugin manager (although the file system could handle it too)
- Auto-sync of configuration (though throwing it in OneDrive is usually enough)
- A user-friendly options configuration UI (though changing ini isn't that hard)
- Execute external code (Python, Nodejs, external AHK, Bash, …) (although running a script isn't much trouble)
If you have any ideas or suggestions, please propose them here: Issues · snomiao/CapslockX
Win + series are generally used for operating system functions, desktop window application process management, input method, output device (display, multiple screens) management.
Alt + series typically denote invocation of application internal functions, their meanings should be equivalent to pressing the same function button, or jumping to a specific function interface.
Ctrl + series as above, but used more frequently and it's very likely that there is no button with the same function.
Ctrl + Alt + same as above, but generally for global hotkeys.
The Shift key is used to slightly change the meaning of the above functions (such as reverse operations like Shift+Alt+Tab, or extended function range like Shift+Arrow keys to adjust the selection, etc.)
Updated (20200627) The information may become outdated over time
| Feature\Project | CapsLockX | Vonng/CapsLock | coralsw/CapsEz | CapsLock+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mouse Simulation | ✅ Smooth and complete | ✅ No scroll wheel | 🈚 None | 🈚 None |
| Expression Calculation | ✅ Nodejs or JScript | 🈚 None | 🈚 None | ✅ TabScript (Snippet + Javascript) |
| Window Management | ✅ Strong | ✅ Available | ✅ Available | ✅ Strong |
| Virtual Desktop Management | ✅ Available | 🈚 None | 🈚 None | 🈚 None |
| Editing Enhancement | ✅ Available (parabolic model) | ✅ Available | ✅ Available | ✅ Very comprehensive |
| Portable (No Install) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Enhanced Media Keys | Not all | ✅ All | 🈚 None | 🈚 None |
| Enhanced Clipboard | Weak | 🈚 None | 🈚 None | ✅ Available |
| Quick Application Launch | ✅ Plugins | ✅ Available | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Application Feature Enhancement | ✅ Rich | 🈚 None | ✅ Available | 🈚 None |
| Bash Control | 🈚 None | ✅ Available | 🈚 None | 🈚 None |
| Quick Start Voice Input | ✅ iFLYTEK | 🈚 None | 🈚 None | 🈚 None |
| Quick Input of Time and Date | ✅ Available | ✅ Available | ||
| Bind Window to Hotkey | 🈚 None | 🈚 None | 🈚 None | ✅ Available |
| Quick Screen Rotation | ✅ Available | 🈚 None | 🈚 None | 🈚 None |
| Secondary Development | ✅ Documentation friendly | ✅ Possible | ✅ Possible | ✅ Possible |
| Memory Usage | ✅ About 2~3M | |||
| Modularization | ✅ | 🈚 None | 🈚 None | 🈚 None |
| System | Win | Mac (main), Win (secondary) | Win | Win, Mac |
| Supported Languages | English / Chinese / Any Language (by ChatGPT) | Chinese / English | Chinese | Chinese / English |
The following repositories are updated synchronously:
- GitHub: https://github.com/snolab/CapsLockX
- Gitee: https://gitee.com/snomiao/CapslockX
- Bitbucket: https://bitbucket.org/snomiao/capslockx
- Gitlab: https://gitlab.com/snomiao/CapsLockX/
Document Address 📄
- Automatic Translation Document Netlify CDN: https://capslockx.netlify.com
- Automatic Translation Document CloudFlare CDN: https://capslockx.snomiao.com
Star Chart ⭐️
- Star Historys
- Source: Vonng/CapsLock: Make CapsLock Great Again! Design: Capslock/design.md at master · Vonng/Capslock
- coralsw/CapsEz: KeyMouse Tools
- CapsLock+
- Capslox
- CapsLock++ matrix1001/CapsLock-plus-plus: ⌨Amazing, extendable, readable autohotkey scripts framework utilized by CapsLock.
- Power Keys | Liberate Computer Usage Efficiency
Related Communities:
- CapsLockX's issues (can be used as a forum) ✉️
- CapsLockX User Telegram Group: t.me/CLX_users📱
- CapsLockX User QQ Group 🐧: 100949388
- QZ/VimD/TC/AHK QQ Group 🐧: 271105729
- AHK Advanced QQ Group 🐧: 717947647
- The Little Red Dot mechanical keyboard group 🐧: 199606725
For questions related to CapsLockX, you can directly join the group @雪星 or ask privately.
Considering that any software that can obtain administrative rights is quite dangerous to a user's operating system, CapsLockX must and is currently adopting an open-source approach. This allows the community to freely and arbitrarily inspect any part of the CapsLockX code that may be involved, to ensure that the security of all users' operating systems is not compromised by this software.
How to help CapsLockX survive? If CapsLockX has been helpful to you:
- ⭐️ Please star CapsLockX on Github Star
- 🔗 Please share it with your friends.
- 🌐 Welcome to help translate this documentation into different languages.
- 🐞 Welcome to submit bugs and suggestions for improvement issues
- Code PR submissions are welcome, even just to correct a typo ～
- Welcome to create works about this software, such as recording tutorial videos to post on Youtube or Bilibili, Xue Xing will like your video.
- 💰 Welcome to donate to the development of CapsLockX, each donation will be recorded in the list below:
- Aifadian ⚡️：https://afdian.net/@snomiao
- PAYPAL: https://paypal.me/snomiao
- Alipay donation account： snomiao@gmail.com （click to view QR code）
- Wise donation account： snomiao@gmail.com
- ETH： 0xdc2eece11a9e09c8db921989e54b30375446e49e
| Donation Date | Name | Channel | Amount | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-06-19 | **Yu | Alipay QR | +50.00 CNY | A little support, in favor of independent developers |
| 2023-05-12 | Karawen | WeChat Transfer | +200.00 CNY | 🫡 (Salute) |
| 2023-06-09 | @andriasw | Alipay Transfer | +66.66 CNY | for CapsLockX-mac, 66.66 is good (https://github.com/andriasw) |
| 2023-12-19 | Huidan | QQ Red Packet | +45.00 CNY | Buy the developer a coffee |
- Thank you for the financial support from the above donors.
- Thanks to Qin Jinwei for the citation recommendation article and development suggestions: 2020-02-23 When Keyboard Simulates Mouse - Jianshu
- Thanks to @He Xuren for helping with the dissemination: CapsLockX – Operate the computer like a hacker! 【Xue Xing】 – AutoAHK
- Thank you to those who asked questions in the issues and in the group and helped to improve CapsLockX.
- 秦金伟
- V2EX:
- Zhihu:
- AutoAHK:
- (10) What are some good career alternatives for a computer programmer with RSI? - Quora
- simple internationalization function - Scripts and Functions - AutoHotkey Community
- CapsLockX - 💻 Get Hacker's Keyboard. Operate your computer like a hacker
- Version Wall - Badge Wall 📛 Badges
- Beginner's Quick Start Tutorial 📖 Tutorial
- Advanced Reference Manual 🦽 Manual
- Usage Manual 📖 - Usage Manual
- Basic Operations
- Module Descriptions
- Nightmares of Multitasking
- Virtual Desktop Overview: Scenarios Mode, Work Desktop, Entertainment Desktop, Project Categorization...
- Improvement of User Experience in Windows Window Switching - Win+tab
- TODO-Docs
- Focus Amount: Active Window, Default Active Window,...
- Utilization of Multiple Screens - Multi-screening
- Window Arrangement in the 4K Era - Window arrange with 4k screen
- Troubles with Edit Operations
- Troubles with Graphic User Interface
- Human Perception of Speed
- Hotkey Flaws of Software
- Usability of Portable Keyboards
- Help Module
- Functions of this module as follows
- Common Features/Characteristics
- Explanations
- Common Features/Characteristics
- Explanations
- Common Features Used by XuexingMiao
- Key Distribution Design (Under Development)
- Detailed Key Table / CheatSheet
- Features
- How to Use as follows
- Operational Details
- Brief Description of the Features
- Effect Pictures
- How to Use as follows (Alt+Tab and CapsLockX)
- Past and Future 🛰
- FAQs Related ❓ Questions
- Support ⭐️ Supports
- Footer Catalog - Table of Contents
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