skhd

skhd runs as a background daemon on macOS and intercepts keyboard events through the accessibility API. Users define hotkeys in a plain‑text configuration file using a concise domain‑specific language; the file can be edited while skhd is running and the daemon will automatically reload the changes. A pid‑file ensures only one instance operates at a time, and launchd integration provides service management and log files in /tmp.

The daemon supports a range of features including hotloading of the config, modal and application‑specific hotkey sets, blacklisting of applications, and the ability to treat media keys as hotkeys. It can also synthesize key presses or arbitrary text, and provides command‑line options for installing, starting, stopping, and profiling the service. Configuration files are searched in standard XDG locations, with an explicit path selectable via command‑line flags.

Installation requires the macOS command‑line tools; Homebrew offers a formula that also installs a launchd service, while building from source is possible via a standard make workflow. The project is open‑source, free, and currently in maintenance mode, handling only critical core issues.