KeyDeck
KeyDeck turns your phone into a pad of big programmable keys for your computer, like a Stream Deck. You program the keys in the desktop app, and when you tap a key on the phone, the computer presses a hotkey, types a piece of text or runs a command.
KeyDeck has two parts that work together:
- The phone app is the pad. It shows the keys and sends your taps to the computer.
- The desktop app is the host. It shows a QR code for pairing, lets you program every key, and carries out the actions.
Who it is for
- Streamers and video editors who want one-tap shortcuts without buying extra hardware.
- Developers who want a key for "build", "run tests" or "open the project".
- Anyone who types the same snippets or presses the same key combinations many times a day.
What it does
| Feature | What you get |
|---|---|
| QR pairing | Scan the code the desktop app shows. No accounts, no typing addresses. |
| Wi-Fi or Bluetooth | Connect over your local network, or over Bluetooth Low Energy with no network at all. |
| Three kinds of action | Hotkey (a key combination, media keys included), Text (types a snippet) and Command (runs a shell command). |
| Your own keys | Each key has a label, a colour and an optional picture, shown on the phone. |
| Layouts | Grids from 1 to 48 keys. Each layout keeps its own keys, and you switch between them on the desktop. |
| Live sync | Changes you make on the desktop appear on the connected phone straight away. |
All programming lives on the desktop. The phone only receives the labels, colours and pictures of the keys.
Platforms
| Part | Released build |
|---|---|
| Phone app | Android, as an APK file |
| Desktop app | Ubuntu and Debian on x64, as a .deb package |
The current release, 0.0.1, is marked as a pre-release on GitHub. See Install.
Privacy and safety
Each time the desktop app starts, it makes a new secret token and puts it in the QR code. Only a phone that has scanned the current code can send key presses, so other devices on your network cannot. Keys never leave your local network or Bluetooth link: KeyDeck has no cloud service and no account.
WARNING
A Command key runs whatever shell command you give it, with your user's rights. Only program commands you understand, and do not let anyone else scan your QR code.
Source code and support
The source code and the issue tracker are on GitHub.