Software Alternatives & Startups

DirectFB VS TouchCursor

Compare DirectFB VS TouchCursor and see what are their differences

DirectFB

DirectFB is a web-based platform that provides you with complete access to a software library that you can use for the acceleration of graphics, handling the input devices, and others for your Linux operating systems.

Rating
0 reviews
TouchCursor

TouchCursor - Cursor keys for touch typists

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, TouchCursor seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 10 times since March 2021.

social mentions
0 vs 10
OS & Utilities popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
9 vs 13

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

DFB
DirectFB
TouchCursor
Website web.archive.org martin-stone.github.io
Pricing
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

DFB
DirectFB 4 features
TouchCursor 0 features
  • Performance
    DirectFB provides high-performance graphics operations on embedded systems by directly interfacing with the framebuffer, which can result in faster rendering compared to other graphics systems that use more layers of abstraction.
  • Resource Efficiency
    It is optimized for low resource usage, which makes it suitable for use on devices with limited processing power and memory, such as set-top boxes and other embedded systems.
  • Simplicity
    DirectFB offers a relatively straightforward API for 2D graphics operations, which can simplify the development process for applications that do not require the full complexity of OpenGL or similar libraries.
  • Support for Multiple Backends
    DirectFB supports various input and output backends, allowing for flexible integration with different types of hardware such as different graphics cards and input devices.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited 3D Support
    While DirectFB is excellent for 2D operations, it lacks comprehensive support for 3D graphics compared to more modern graphics APIs like OpenGL or Vulkan, which might limit its use for applications requiring 3D rendering.
  • Obsolescence
    DirectFB has not seen significant updates or widespread adoption in recent years, which makes it less desirable for new projects compared to other graphics stacks that are actively developed and supported.
  • Platform Specificity
    It is designed primarily for Linux-based systems, which limits its portability to other operating systems, unlike more platform-agnostic graphics libraries.
  • Development Community
    The community and support around DirectFB are relatively small, which can make it more challenging to find help or resources when encountering issues during development.

No features have been listed yet.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

DFB
DirectFB
TouchCursor

No analysis of DirectFB yet.

Overall verdict

  • TouchCursor is a solid, lightweight utility that lets you navigate and edit text without leaving the home row by turning keys like IJKL into arrow keys when a modifier (typically the spacebar) is held. It's free, open source, and highly configurable, making it a favorite among productivity-focused typists.

Why this product is good

  • Free and open source, with no cost or licensing hassles
  • Keeps your hands on the home row, reducing the need to reach for arrow keys or the mouse
  • Highly customizable key mappings and activation keys
  • Lightweight and runs quietly in the background with minimal resource usage
  • Improves typing efficiency and can help reduce hand strain over time

Recommended for

  • Touch typists who want to minimize hand movement
  • Programmers and writers who do a lot of text navigation and editing
  • Windows users looking for a free keyboard productivity tool
  • People with ergonomic concerns who want to avoid reaching for arrow keys
  • Power users who enjoy customizing their keyboard workflow

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

DFB
DirectFB 1 video + Add
TouchCursor 1 video + Add

Odroid c1 directfb porting : booting time 14sec

TouchCursor demo

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
DFB
DirectFB
TouchCursor
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using DirectFB and TouchCursor. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

DFB
DirectFB 0 mentions
TouchCursor 10 mentions

Tracking DirectFB since Apr 2022.

  • Problem with TouchCursor for PC
    Has anyone gotten TouchCursor's (TouchCursor - Cursor keys for touch typists (martin-stone.github.io) function to disable using certain programs? It just doesn't work at all for me whether I use the crosshair thing or just manually enter... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Has anyone here used UCIEA or variants?
    If you're on Windows, do have a look at TouchCursor and / or SpaceFN. They basically allow you to use the spacebar for anything you're doing with AltGr - so much more efficient. Source: over 3 years ago
  • German Qwerty Keyboard?
    Use TouchCursor. It will greatly boost your general productivity and you can access special characters like Umlaute by using the spacebar as a modifier. Source: over 3 years ago

View more

Alternatives to DirectFB and TouchCursor

When comparing DirectFB and TouchCursor, you can also consider the following products.