Sendkeys: Command line tool for automating keystrokes and mouse events on macOS

#1

Post by nateb2022 » Sun, Jul 06, 2025, 4:10 PM UTC

Sendkeys: Command line tool for automating keystrokes and mouse events on macOS
github.com

Re: Sendkeys: Command line tool for automating keystrokes and mouse events on macOS

#2

Post by lukaslukas » Sun, Jul 06, 2025, 8:05 PM UTC

Nice. But why?

Re: Sendkeys: Command line tool for automating keystrokes and mouse events on macOS

#3

Post by ivanche » Sun, Jul 06, 2025, 8:28 PM UTC

lukaslukas wrote: post #2

Nice. But why?

For example to automate what couldn't be automated otherwise.

Re: Sendkeys: Command line tool for automating keystrokes and mouse events on macOS

#4

Post by supersixirene » Sun, Jul 06, 2025, 8:31 PM UTC

This is legend. I’ll be putting this to extensive use tomorrow.

Re: Sendkeys: Command line tool for automating keystrokes and mouse events on macOS

#5

Post by supersixirene » Sun, Jul 06, 2025, 8:32 PM UTC

ivanche wrote: post #3

lukaslukas wrote: post #2

Nice. But why?

For example to automate what couldn't be automated otherwise.

For example to deal with software designers that think web browsers are people

Re: Sendkeys: Command line tool for automating keystrokes and mouse events on macOS

#6

Post by robterrell » Sun, Jul 06, 2025, 10:37 PM UTC

supersixirene wrote: post #4

This is legend. I’ll be putting this to extensive use tomorrow.

You've always had this ability, but with more convoluted syntax:

  osascript -e "tell application \"System Events\" to keystroke \"whatever\""

Specify the application too with multiple -e parameters. This will copy whatever is selected in Safari:

  osascript -e "tell application \"Safari\" to activate" -e "tell application \"System Events\" to keystroke \"c\" using {command down}"

Re: Sendkeys: Command line tool for automating keystrokes and mouse events on macOS

#7

Post by pkoird » Mon, Jul 07, 2025, 2:31 AM UTC

Wonder how this compares to Autohotkey on Windows.

Re: Sendkeys: Command line tool for automating keystrokes and mouse events on macOS

#8

Post by biomcgary » Mon, Jul 07, 2025, 2:46 AM UTC

Now to finetune my local LLM on the sendkeys syntax, add kyutai for streaming voice recognition, and my mac will be fully voice operable.

Re: Sendkeys: Command line tool for automating keystrokes and mouse events on macOS

#9

Post by eviks » Mon, Jul 07, 2025, 2:56 AM UTC

pkoird wrote: post #7

Wonder how this compares to Autohotkey on Windows.

Ahk isn't cli, and also is a full-blown programming language, so not as limited in its input

Re: Sendkeys: Command line tool for automating keystrokes and mouse events on macOS

#10

Post by eviks » Mon, Jul 07, 2025, 2:58 AM UTC

robterrell wrote: post #6

supersixirene wrote: post #4

This is legend. I’ll be putting this to extensive use tomorrow.

You've always had this ability, but with more convoluted syntax: osascript -e "tell application \"System Events\" to keystroke \"whatever\"" Specify the application too with multiple -e parameters. This will copy whatever is selected in Safari: osascript -e "tell application \"Safari\" to activate" -e "tell application \"System Events\" to keystroke \"c\" using {command down}"

How do you stimulate delays, animation intervals, key down/ups a with System Events?