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Cool but obscure X11 tools

cyber.dabamos.de

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Re: Cool but obscure X11 tools

#21
post #14

For those looking for obscure-but-useful, checkout xdotool. `sleep 2; xdotool type "foo"` is super handy for typing passwords into virtual machines which don't support guest additions. I'd rather not elaborate on the filthy things I've made it do, but rest assured you can use it to do some quick and dirty automation tasks if you really need to :)

Autokey (Python) gives you similar power as AutoHotKey on Windows and Karabiner Elements/Hammerspoon on macOS. Problem is, that you might want Wayland support, as X is on the way out. [1] https://github.com/autokey/autokey

Last time I tried Karabiner Elements, it was quite buggy and brought down the kernel. Not a happy camper. Then Apple blessed us with allowing Escape-Caps remapping out of the box (guess that Touch Bar resulted in something useful...)

Did it improve? What do you remap?

Re: Cool but obscure X11 tools

#23

For those looking for obscure-but-useful, checkout xdotool. `sleep 2; xdotool type "foo"` is super handy for typing passwords into virtual machines which don't support guest additions. I'd rather not elaborate on the filthy things I've made it do, but rest assured you can use it to do some quick and dirty automation tasks if you really need to :)

PLEASE elaborate on the filthy things you've made it do!

- Unit/Integration test X11 tools inside docker Xephyr sessions during CI

- Transplant magnet links from ThePirateBay into a bittorrent client

- Type stuff into virtual machines rather than install guest additions

- Import data into remote desktop sessions for otherwise internet-isolated+Copypaste disabled remote hosts, complete with integrity checking powershell scripts which were also imported into the environment that were used to self-integrity check prior to integrity checking other files.

The use of xdotool is probably an antipattern in a perfect world, but that doesn't mean that it's not damn handy from time to time.

Re: Cool but obscure X11 tools

#24

For those looking for obscure-but-useful, checkout xdotool. `sleep 2; xdotool type "foo"` is super handy for typing passwords into virtual machines which don't support guest additions. I'd rather not elaborate on the filthy things I've made it do, but rest assured you can use it to do some quick and dirty automation tasks if you really need to :)

... or cheat cookie-clicker.

Re: Cool but obscure X11 tools

#26
>XLennart is a modification of the arcade game XBill.

>An evil and unpopular computer hacker named “Lennart”[1] tries to install his malicious init system on various BSD and Linux systems.

>Like in XBill, the player has to hit him and restore infected systems.

[1] https://cyber.dabamos.de/unix/x11/poettering.gif

Re: Cool but obscure X11 tools

#28

For those looking for obscure-but-useful, checkout xdotool. `sleep 2; xdotool type "foo"` is super handy for typing passwords into virtual machines which don't support guest additions. I'd rather not elaborate on the filthy things I've made it do, but rest assured you can use it to do some quick and dirty automation tasks if you really need to :)

On macOS I use Keyboard Maestro[1] with a "Type String" macro[2]. Pops up an input[3] and then types the string you enter after a delay. One of many time-saving uses for KM!

[1] https://www.keyboardmaestro.com/ [2] https://gist.github.com/chroder/a18178940cd1e96a76c4daea63dc... [3] https://i.imgur.com/UEjDfNJ.png

Re: Cool but obscure X11 tools

#29
Cloud computing is becoming a thing ... eg. apps that runs "in the cloud" or in your browser. But with Xserver you can just ssh -X into any machine, run an app, and the front-end GUI will be visible on your machine! You can even play games that way. Technology keeps going in circles ...
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