10 Minute Review - Keyboard Maestro.

Without an update for KeyQuencer on MacOS X, I've been scrambling for an appropriate replacement. Quickeys is powerful, but at $79.95 it's more than I want to spend.

That's when I gave Keyboard Maestro a try. Written by Michael Kamprath, the utility is $20 shareware, but the author is very being very generous. From the READ ME:

"You are permitted to install an unregistered copy of the software onto any number of computers and freely use the software in its unregistered form indefinitely. "

A few options are crippled until you register, but none of these are so severe that you feel limited, and there are no nag screens. It's a fair offer from a developer who is confident in his work.

Keyboard Maestro serves three main functions: an application switcher, a clipboard scrapbook, and an excellent utility for assigning keyboard macros. It's this last function I will focus on the most.

As shown in the window below, you can use any keyboard combination to launch a program, paste assigned text, and run scripts. Surprisingly, it not only runs Applescripts, but UNIX style shell and perl scripts!

Currently, 19 functions can be assigned to keystrokes. Many duplicate the various modes of switching and hiding applications and seem redundant to the built in Program Switcher, but the remaining actions are powerful. Several can be assigned to a single keystroke. For example, you can launch an email app, web browser, and open a few URLS all with a single keystroke. I'm sure in a few days I'll run into the limits imposed by not registering (20 keystrokes) and I'll be more than happy to sign up!

Pros: Easily assign keystrokes to system functions. Generous shareware option. Allows you to run shell scripts without opening the Terminal.app.

Cons: Program and Clipboard Switchers, while nice, could be split into stand alone utilities. Actions I'd like to see added: select a menu item, speak assigned text, and click a named button.