A cross-platform command-line tool for sending keystrokes to specific processes at configurable intervals. Perfect for gaming automation, testing, or any scenario where you need to send repeated keystrokes to a specific application.
This tool is intended for educational purposes and use with offline/single-player games only.
- DO NOT use this tool with online multiplayer games
- DO NOT use this tool with games that have anti-cheat systems (EasyAntiCheat, BattlEye, Vanguard, etc.)
- Using automation tools in online games may result in:
- Permanent account bans
- Hardware ID bans
- Violation of Terms of Service
- Loss of game progress and purchases
- Single-player offline games
- Local development and testing
- Automation of non-gaming applications
- Educational and research purposes
- Personal productivity tools
- Always check the game's Terms of Service before use
- Only use with games that explicitly allow automation tools
- Prefer official game features (auto-run, key rebinding) when available
- Use responsibly and ethically
The developers of this tool are not responsible for any consequences resulting from its misuse. Users assume all risks and responsibilities when using this software.
- 🎯 Target specific processes - Send keys only to the process you specify
- ⌨️ Flexible key support - Support for letters, special keys, and key combinations
- 📝 Key sequences - Send multiple keys with different intervals
- ⏱️ Configurable intervals - Set custom delays between keystrokes
- 🔄 Loop control - Run sequences once or loop indefinitely
- ⏸️ Global pause/resume - System-wide hotkey support (works regardless of window focus)
- 🔍 Smart process detection - Automatically finds and monitors target processes
- 📄 Configuration files - Save and load settings from JSON files
- 🎨 Colorized output - Beautiful terminal interface with status indicators
- 🚀 Cross-platform - Works on Windows and Linux
git clone https://github.com/KyleDerZweite/process-key-sender.git
cd process-key-sender
cargo build --releasecargo install process-key-sender# Send 'R' key to game.exe every 1000ms
pks --process game.exe
# Send 'F' key every 500ms
pks --process myapp.exe --key f --interval 500
# Enable verbose output
pks --process notepad.exe --key space --verbose# Send multiple keys with different intervals
pks --process game.exe --sequence "r:1000,space:500,e:2000"
# Complex sequence for crafting in games
pks --process rpg.exe --sequence "e:500,tab:200,enter:300,escape:1000"
# Simple sequence with default intervals
pks --process app.exe --sequence "w,a,s,d"
# Run sequence only once (no looping)
pks --process game.exe --sequence "f1:1000,f2:1000" --loop-sequence=false
# Repeat sequence exactly 5 times
pks --process game.exe --sequence "r:2000,space:1000" --repeat-count 5# Send Ctrl+C combination
pks --process editor.exe --key "ctrl+c" --interval 5000
# Send Alt+Tab
pks --process app.exe --key "alt+tab" --interval 3000
# Complex sequence with combinations
pks --process ide.exe --sequence "ctrl+s:2000,f5:1000,ctrl+shift+f10:5000"# Load configuration from file
pks --config my-config.json
# Save current settings to configuration file
pks --process game.exe --sequence "r:1000,e:500" --save-config my-config.json
# Maximum retries to find process
pks --process game.exe --max-retries 20The global hotkey feature allows you to pause and resume automation regardless of which window has focus. This is especially useful when you need to quickly pause automation while working in other applications.
- Default:
Ctrl+Alt+R - Action: Toggle pause/resume
- Scope: System-wide (works in any application)
- Start automation with any command
- Switch to any other application (browser, game, etc.)
- Press
Ctrl+Alt+Rto pause automation - Press
Ctrl+Alt+Ragain to resume - Visual feedback appears in the terminal
# Set custom pause hotkey in configuration
{
"process_name": "game.exe",
"pause_hotkey": "ctrl+shift+p",
"key_sequence": [...]
}Modifiers: ctrl, alt, shift, meta/cmd/super
Keys: a-z, 0-9, f1-f12, space, enter, arrow keys, etc.
Examples:
- ctrl+alt+r
- ctrl+shift+p
- alt+f1
- ctrl+alt+space
# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get install libx11-dev libxtst-dev libxrandr-dev libxinerama-dev libxcursor-dev libxi-dev
# Fedora/RHEL
sudo dnf install libX11-devel libXtst-devel libXrandr-devel libXinerama-devel libXcursor-devel libXi-devel
### Command Line Options
Options: -p, --process Name of the target process (e.g., "game.exe", "notepad") -k, --key Single key to send [default: r] -i, --interval Interval between keystrokes in milliseconds [default: 1000] -s, --sequence Key sequence with custom intervals (e.g., "r:1000,space:500,e:2000") -r, --max-retries <MAX_RETRIES> Maximum number of attempts to find the process [default: 10] --pause-hotkey <PAUSE_HOTKEY> Hotkey to pause/resume (e.g., "ctrl+alt+r") --loop-sequence Loop the sequence indefinitely [default: true] --repeat-count Number of times to repeat the sequence (0 = infinite) [default: 0] -v, --verbose Enable verbose output -c, --config Load configuration from file --save-config <SAVE_CONFIG> Save current configuration to file -h, --help Print help -V, --version Print version
### Sequence Format
Key sequences use the format: `key1:interval1,key2:interval2,key3:interval3`
- **Key**: Any supported key (see supported keys below)
- **Interval**: Time to wait after pressing the key (in milliseconds)
- **Separator**: Use commas to separate key-interval pairs
- **Optional interval**: If no interval is specified, default is 1000ms
Examples:
```bash
# Basic sequence
"r,space,e" # Each key waits 1000ms
# Custom intervals
"r:2000,space:500,e:1500"
# Mixed format
"r:2000,space,e:500" # space uses default 1000ms
# Key combinations in sequence
"ctrl+c:1000,tab:500,enter:2000"
- Letters:
a-z(case insensitive) - Numbers:
0-9
- Space:
space - Enter:
enter,return - Tab:
tab - Escape:
escape,esc - Backspace:
backspace - Delete:
delete
- Arrows:
left,right,up,down
- Navigation:
home,end,pageup,pagedown
- Function:
f1throughf12
- Modifiers:
shift,ctrl/control,alt
- Format:
modifier+key(e.g.,ctrl+c,alt+tab,ctrl+shift+s) - Multiple modifiers:
ctrl+shift+f10
You can save and load configurations using JSON files:
{
"process_name": "game.exe",
"key_sequence": [
{
"key": "r",
"interval_after": "1000ms"
},
{
"key": "space",
"interval_after": "500ms"
},
{
"key": "e",
"interval_after": "2000ms"
}
],
"max_retries": 10,
"pause_hotkey": "ctrl+alt+r",
"verbose": false,
"loop_sequence": true,
"repeat_count": 0
}# Reload, wait, use health potion, wait longer
pks --process single-player-fps.exe --sequence "r:1500,h:3000"# Open inventory, navigate, craft, close
pks --process rpg.exe --sequence "i:500,tab:200,tab:200,space:300,escape:1000"# Move forward, interact, wait for animation, move back
pks --process farming-sim.exe --sequence "w:1000,e:2000,s:1000" --repeat-count 10# Regular auto-save in single-player game
pks --process game.exe --sequence "f5:30000" --verbose# Save, switch to browser, refresh, switch back
pks --process vscode.exe --sequence "ctrl+s:500,alt+tab:200,f5:1000,alt+tab:500"# Build, wait for completion, run tests
pks --process terminal.exe --sequence "ctrl+c:100,up:100,enter:5000,ctrl+c:100"# Auto-advance slides every 10 seconds
pks --process powerpoint.exe --key "right" --interval 10000# Page down, wait to read, repeat
pks --process document-viewer.exe --sequence "pagedown:5000" --repeat-count 20# Gentle, regular interaction to keep applications active
pks --process app.exe --sequence "shift:30000" --verbose- ✅ Windows - Full support using Windows API
- 🚧 Linux - Basic support (X11 implementation in progress)
- 🚧 macOS - Planned support
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request. For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss what you would like to change.
git clone https://github.com/KyleDerZweite/process-key-sender.git
cd process-key-sender
cargo build
cargo test- Complete Linux/X11 implementation
- Add macOS support
- Global hotkey implementation for pause/resume
- GUI version
- More key types and special characters
- Process window title filtering
- Randomized intervals within ranges
- Conditional sequences based on screen colors/patterns
- Recording and playback of manual key sequences
- Educational programming projects
- Accessibility tools for users with disabilities
- Testing and quality assurance
- Personal productivity automation
- Single-player game convenience features
- Development and debugging tools
- Gaining unfair advantages in competitive online games
- Violating Terms of Service of any software
- Circumventing game mechanics in multiplayer environments
- Any form of cheating in online games
- Commercial exploitation without proper licensing
- This software is provided for educational and legitimate automation purposes
- Users are responsible for compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
- Users must respect the Terms of Service of all software they interact with
- The authors disclaim responsibility for any misuse of this software
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
- Built with Rust 🦀
- Uses
clapfor CLI parsing - Uses
sysinfofor cross-platform process detection - Windows implementation uses
winapi - Terminal colors by
colored
KyleDerZweite - GitHub
⭐ If you find this tool useful, please consider giving it a star on GitHub!
Remember: Use responsibly and ethically. When in doubt, don't use it with online games!