typls (typeless)

typls is a cross-platform app that automatically expands user defined abbreviations into any text.

Example: type 'hi, get Hi there, it was really nice to meet you!

The app is built with Tauri (v2 alpha), Rust, Nuxt (Typescript) and Tailwind.

Features

• Cross-platform: Works on MacOS, Windows and Linux (X11)
• Customizable: Adjust many settings to make it work for you
• Variables: Pass values to expanded text via placeholders ({} or {name}) and define default values to make them optional ({=bar} or {foo=bar})
• Works in any app: Because typls listens directly to and simulates keyboard input, it can expand text in any application you interact with: Websites, native apps, terminals to remote servers, etc.
• Clean and easy to use interface

Usage

You define the word hi should expand to Hi there, how are you?. The trigger character is '.

So you type 'hi and confirm it with a space, which would cause the typed sequence to be replaced with Hi there, how are you?.

You can also enable the option to auto expand abbreviations as soon as one match is found, when they don't contain any variables.

Variables

The customize expansions, you can either use anonymous ({}) or named ({name}) variables. To pass values to the expansions to append them to your abbreviation with a | (pipe).

Like this: 'hi|bar. To pass multiple values just separate them with a | again: 'hi|bar|fizz. Named variables are quite similar: 'hi|foo=bar and 'hi|foo=bar|bazz=fizz.

Anonymous variables are replaced one by one:

1. Hi {}, it was really nice to {} you?
2. 'hi|Peter|meet
3. Hi Peter, it was really nice to meet you?

Named variables are replaced globally:

1. Hi {name}, I like the name {name}! It was nice to {kind} you.
2. 'hi|name=Peter|kind=meet
3. Hi Peter, I like the name Peter! It was nice to meet you.

Default values

Sometimes you want to be able to customize the expansion text, but not have to pass a value every time you use it. That's where you can use default values for variables.

To assign a default value simply add it after the variable name separated by an equal sign: Hi {name} -> Hi {name=there}. This also works for unnamed variables: Hi {} -> Hi {=there}.

Let's take a example from before and add some default values:

Hi {=there}, it was really nice to {=meet} you.

Now, if you just type 'hi, you get Hi there, it was really nice to meet you..

But you can also pass values to customize some (or all variables): 'hi|Peter -> Hi Peter, it was really nice to meet you..

Installation

Download the file for your platform from the latest release and install it.

Note

Currently the application is not signed, so the operating systems don't trust it. You might have to jump through some hoops to actually install it.

On MacOS, after attempting opening the installer for the first time you'll get a popup that the app cannot be opened because it isn't trusted. To continue, simply go to the "Privacy & Security" settings scroll down past the permission until you see "typls" mentioned and click "Open anyway".

Important

MacOS Permissions: On MacOS the app needs the Input Monitoring and Accessibility permissions. This is needed, because it needs to read your key strokes and simulate key presses to expand the text.

Roadmap & Ideas

• Default/fallback values for variables
• Enable/disable expansions for different applications (?)

Development

# Install dependencies
pnpm install

# Run development server
pnpm tauri dev

Building

pnpm tauri build