Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FlashWheel VS SharpKeys

Compare FlashWheel VS SharpKeys and see what are their differences

FlashWheel logo FlashWheel

FlashWheel is a windows utility to allow the mouse wheel message to be sent to the window under the...

SharpKeys logo SharpKeys

SharpKeys is a utility that manages a Registry key that allows Windows to remap one key to any...
  • FlashWheel Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-06-06
  • SharpKeys Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-02

FlashWheel features and specs

  • Open Source
    FlashWheel is open source, allowing users to freely modify and distribute the software based on their needs and preferences.
  • Resource Efficiency
    Due to its lightweight design, FlashWheel consumes minimal system resources, making it suitable for users with older or low-spec hardware.
  • Customizable
    It offers a high degree of customization, enabling users to adapt the software to their specific needs and enhance usability.
  • Community Support
    Being hosted on SourceForge, FlashWheel benefits from a community of developers and users who can offer support and contribute to its development.

Possible disadvantages of FlashWheel

  • Limited Features
    Compared to more comprehensive mouse wheel utilities, FlashWheel may lack advanced features and settings that some users might require.
  • User Interface
    The user interface might not be as polished or intuitive as some commercial alternatives, which can affect user experience.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There may be compatibility issues with newer operating systems or hardware, as open source projects sometimes have slower update cycles.
  • Documentation
    The documentation may not be as comprehensive as commercial software, potentially making troubleshooting or learning to use certain features more difficult for users.

SharpKeys features and specs

  • Open Source
    SharpKeys is available on GitHub, which means it is open source. This allows users to inspect the code, contribute to development, or customize it for their needs.
  • Free of Cost
    SharpKeys is entirely free to use, making it accessible to anyone without the need for a commercial license.
  • Simple User Interface
    The interface is straightforward and easy to use, which makes the process of remapping keys simple even for non-technical users.
  • Registry-Based Remapping
    SharpKeys makes changes directly to the Windows registry, ensuring that the remapped keys work across all applications without the need for additional software running in the background.
  • Minimal Resource Usage
    Because SharpKeys modifies the registry rather than running a constant background process, it uses minimal system resources.
  • Portability
    Once the registry changes are made, SharpKeys does not need to remain installed on the system, making it a lightweight, one-time-use tool.

Possible disadvantages of SharpKeys

  • Windows Only
    SharpKeys is designed to work exclusively on Windows operating systems, which limits its usability for users on macOS, Linux, or other platforms.
  • Limited to Registry
    The tool operates by modifying the Windows registry, so it cannot handle complex remapping scenarios that need real-time processing, such as conditional key mappings.
  • No Advanced Features
    SharpKeys lacks advanced features found in more sophisticated key remapping software, such as macro recording, multi-key remapping, or application-specific profiles.
  • Requires Admin Rights
    Since changes are made to the Windows registry, administrative privileges are required, which might be restrictive in some organizational environments.
  • Potential for Errors
    Incorrect registry changes could potentially lead to system instability or errors, especially for users who are not familiar with the Windows registry.
  • Reboot Required
    For registry changes to take effect, a system reboot is necessary, which can be inconvenient for users needing immediate results.

Analysis of SharpKeys

Overall verdict

  • SharpKeys is generally considered a good tool for users who need an easy and effective way to remap keys on Windows. It has a straightforward interface and does not require advanced technical skills to use, making it accessible to a wide range of users. It is also open-source and has a supportive community on GitHub, which contributes to its reliability and improvement over time.

Why this product is good

  • SharpKeys is a utility that allows users to remap keys on their Windows keyboards. It modifies the Windows Registry to achieve this, which is particularly useful for users who want to change the function of a specific key, disable a key, or swap keys to better match their personal typing preferences or overcome keyboard limitations.

Recommended for

    SharpKeys is recommended for Windows users who need to customize their keyboard layout, such as programmers, writers, or anyone who frequently uses specific key combinations. It is also suitable for users who want to disable keys that are accidentally pressed often, such as Caps Lock or Insert, as well as those who want to swap keys for ergonomic reasons or due to a damaged key on their keyboard.

FlashWheel videos

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SharpKeys videos

[Windows] Changing Modifier Keys Using SharpKeys | Reassigning Modifier Keys & SharpKeys Tutorial

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Map Keys with SharpKeys

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FlashWheel and SharpKeys)
Note Taking
43 43%
57% 57
Automation
25 25%
75% 75
Tool
100 100%
0% 0
Windows Tools
21 21%
79% 79

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SharpKeys seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 52 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

FlashWheel mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of FlashWheel yet. Tracking of FlashWheel recommendations started around Mar 2021.

SharpKeys mentions (52)

  • Shortcut for rotating canvas by 15° left or right without a mouse
    I don't like using my mouse while drawing and I couldn't find how to do this anywhere, but luckily when I was about to give up I achieved it! So, for this you'll need a program called SharpKeys. You can download it here: https://github.com/randyrants/sharpkeys/. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Caps Lock Behaviour Disabled in Gnome
    Sharpkeys can swap keys, the readme says as much: > Things that SharpKeys will do: > ... > Allow you to swap two keys with each other - e.g. You can swap Left Windows with Left Control and vice versa I do have a vague recollection of Sharpkeys previously saying that it couldn’t, but that I tried and it worked. Long time since I last used Windows though. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Total Commander
    > Total commander isn’t FOSS. I'm aware of that. There are lots of FOSS equivalents, though. Including, I believe, on Windows. Wikipedia lists 23 of which I think -- haven't checked -- the majority are FOSS. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_manager#Orthodox_file_managers > Ironically windows 11 can’t do vertical taskbars. True. Easily fixed with Explorer Patcher, though. Which, ironically, is FOSS. > And... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Learn AutoHotKey by stealing my scripts
    Remapping Capslock to Control: Windows: https://github.com/randyrants/sharpkeys Ubuntu Linux (don't know about other Linuxes): /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc
        key  { [ Caps_Lock  ] };
    . - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Setup Media Key shortcuts
    SharpKeys: available in the Microsoft Store. Or you can get it here: https://www.randyrants.com/category/sharpkeys/ or here: https://github.com/randyrants/sharpkeys. Source: about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing FlashWheel and SharpKeys, you can also consider the following products

X-Mouse Controls - A tool to enable or disable active window tracking, raising and also the delay in milliseconds.

Karabiner - Karabiner, previously called KeyRemap4MacBook, is a very powerful keyboard remapper for Mac OS X.

HydraMouse - HydraMouse assigns various actions to the buttons of your mouse, even if it has more than 5 buttons! The actions can be system-wide or application-specific, and can be combined into macros.

Key Manager - ATNSOFT Key Manager, Key Remapper, Text Paster

Auto Mouse Mover - Auto Mouse Mover is a software that keeps the user’s computer awake by automatically moving on the screen.

X-Mouse Button Control - XMouse Button Control (XMBC) allows you to create application and window specific profiles.