macOS has a variety of apps like Homerow, Shortcat, and KindaVim (watch the videos in those links if u can) that allow for navigation of apps using just the keyboard. Homerow allows for pressing a hotkey and then showing letters over UI elements which can be entered to move the mouse to said element, similar to the Vim easymotion plugin. KindaVim attempts to implement vim modal navigation inside GUI apps, so you can enter normal or visual mode and use j and k to move up or down. They all work using macOS’ accessibility API which exposes UI elements for programmatic interaction.

I did a bunch of searches for Linux equivalent of such apps and Mac’s accessibility API, and didn’t find anything as comprehensive. Can you navigate a wide variety of Linux apps using mostly or only the keyboard (apps made with GTK, Electron, etc.)? Is it currently possible to develop an equivalent of the apps listed above?

  • TootSweet@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    This isn’t a Linux thing exactly, but I know the QMK firmware for keyboards has a feature called “mouse keys” that let you control your mouse cursor and click and scroll and such exclusively via keyboard keys.

  • ogeist@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    I suppose you need a program that scans the active window, highlights the clickable or scrollable areas and then the click hotkey.

    Honestly, no idea…

    Sounds cool though