jordansissel/xdotool
Xdotool
xdotool is a command-line utility for X11 desktop automation that simulates keyboard and mouse input and manages application windows. It functions as a scriptable tool that maps sequential text instructions to low-level library calls to control the X11 graphical environment.
The project enables the generation of synthetic keyboard and mouse events to automate interactions with graphical user interfaces. It also acts as a window manager controller, allowing users to programmatically move, resize, focus, and organize application windows and virtual desktops.
The tool covers a wide range of capabilities including window property querying, geometry management, and virtual desktop assignment. It also provides input simulation for absolute and relative mouse movements, keyboard string mapping, and the ability to identify windows via process IDs or search criteria.
The utility supports automation via script processing with variable expansion and sequential command chaining.
Features
- Keyboard and Mouse Input Simulations - Generates artificial keyboard and mouse events that the window manager processes as genuine user interactions.
- X11 Desktop Automation Tools - Provides a comprehensive command-line utility for simulating input and managing windows within the X11 environment.
- Command-Line Interface Controllers - Provides a scriptable interface that maps sequential text instructions to low-level library calls for desktop control.
- Command Sequence Automation - Processes sequences of commands from a file or standard input utilizing variable expansion.
- Window Geometry Managers - Provides capabilities to programmatically adjust and reset application window dimensions and positions using absolute or relative coordinates.
- Desktop Automation - Simulates keyboard and mouse input to automate repetitive tasks within an X11 graphical environment.
- Window Handle Management - Identifies unique window handles based on search criteria such as window name, class, or process ID.
- Window Identification - Allows retrieving the process identifier associated with specific application windows for targeted automation.
- Window State Management - Modifies window properties and geometry by interacting with standard window manager hints and attributes.
- X11 Protocol Implementations - Sends low-level requests and events directly to the X display server to manipulate the graphical environment.
- Window Querying Utilities - Retrieves window properties, process IDs, and geometry to identify target applications for automated workflows.
- X11 Window Management Controllers - Enables programmatic moving, resizing, and focusing of application windows and virtual desktops.
- Window Tree Traversers - Scans the tree of active windows to identify targets based on process IDs, classes, or property attributes.
- Input Simulations - Generates synthetic mouse and keyboard events to automate graphical user interface interactions.
- Window Query Filters - Retrieves window metadata including names, class names, process IDs, and dimensions for use in automation scripts.
- Desktop Windowing Management - Programmatically controls application window positions, sizes, and focus to organize a desktop layout.
- Cursor Location Retrievers - The tool retrieves the current coordinates of the cursor along with associated screen and window identifiers.
- Virtual Desktop Organizers - Switching between workspaces and assigning application windows to specific virtual desktops via scripts.
- Viewport Controllers - The tool adjusts the active viewing area of the virtual desktop to specific coordinates.
- Input Event Simulators - Sends synthetic keyboard sequences to target windows with configurable timing.
- Command Chaining - Allows executing multiple subcommands in a single invocation to build automated workflow pipelines.
- X11 Coordinate Controllers - Allows moving the mouse cursor to specific absolute screen coordinates.
- Z-Order Manipulations - Allows moving specified windows to the bottom or top of the desktop z-order stack.
- Relative Mouse Emulation - Shifts the mouse cursor by specific coordinate offsets from its current position.
- Software Mouse Click Emulations - Programmatically generates mouse click events at the OS level.
- Active Window Tracking - Identifies the unique handle of the window currently possessing keyboard focus.
- Window Property Setters - Enables updating window titles, icons, and class names to modify appearance or behavioral attributes.
- Window Event Action Bindings - Allows executing specific commands automatically when window events like mouse entry or focus gain occur.
- Screen Boundary Triggers - Executes specified commands when the mouse cursor reaches a defined screen edge or corner.
- Desktop Event Monitors - Listens for specific desktop events like focus changes or cursor movements to trigger predefined script actions.
- Synthetic Input Testing - Generates low level keyboard and mouse signals to test graphical user interfaces without physical hardware.
- Window Visibility Controllers - Controls the visibility of application windows by mapping or unmapping them on the desktop.
- Window Closing - The tool forcefully closes graphical windows by sending a kill signal to the window manager.
- Application Window Closures - The tool sends quit signals to specified windows to terminate the associated applications.
- Virtual Desktop Assignments - The tool moves specified application windows to a designated virtual desktop.
- Window State Controls - Modifies window properties to toggle fullscreen, maximized, or always-on-top modes.
- Window Focus Control - The tool brings a specific window to the foreground and manages keyboard focus.
