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WinCompose VS Holdkey

Compare WinCompose VS Holdkey and see what are their differences

Contents:
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  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

WinCompose logo WinCompose

WinCompose supports the standard Compose file format.

Holdkey logo Holdkey

Holdkey is a Windows program that makes it easy to type characters with accents..
  • WinCompose Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-13
  • Holdkey Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-11-02

WinCompose features and specs

  • Customizability
    WinCompose allows users to customize their own compose sequences, providing flexibility to create characters and symbols that are not predefined.
  • Wide Character Support
    The application supports thousands of Unicode characters, enabling the input of a diverse range of symbols and special characters that are otherwise hard to type.
  • Free and Open Source
    WinCompose is open-source software, allowing users to freely use, study, modify, and distribute the software, which encourages community involvement and transparency.
  • Lightweight
    The software is lightweight and does not consume significant system resources, making it suitable for regular use without impacting system performance.

Possible disadvantages of WinCompose

  • Learning Curve
    New users might experience a learning curve while getting accustomed to various compose key sequences, especially if they are unfamiliar with compose keys in general.
  • Windows Only
    WinCompose is specifically designed for Windows operating systems, limiting its usability for those using other platforms such as macOS or Linux without additional configurations like Wine.
  • Potential Software Conflicts
    Users might encounter conflicts with other software that uses similar keyboard shortcuts or compose keys, potentially leading to unexpected behavior.
  • Limited Support
    As a community-driven project, WinCompose might not offer the same level of dedicated support or documentation as commercial software, which might pose challenges for troubleshooting.

Holdkey features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Holdkey allows users to type special characters and accents by simply holding down a key. This intuitive method makes it easy for users of all skill levels to access special characters without needing to remember complex key combinations.
  • Wide Character Support
    Holdkey provides support for a wide range of characters from different languages, enabling users to easily type accented characters and special symbols required for various languages.
  • Lightweight Software
    Holdkey is a lightweight application that does not consume significant system resources, ensuring smooth performance without slowing down the computer.
  • Affordability
    With a reasonable pricing structure, Holdkey offers affordable access to enhanced typing functionality, making it an economical choice for both individual and professional users.

Possible disadvantages of Holdkey

  • Limited Platform Support
    Holdkey is primarily available for Windows, potentially leaving users of other operating systems, such as macOS or Linux, without access to the software.
  • System Compatibility Issues
    Some users may experience compatibility issues with certain system configurations or software, leading to potential conflicts or the need for additional troubleshooting.
  • Learning Curve
    While designed to be intuitive, new users may require some time to adapt to the Holdkey method of typing special characters, especially if they are accustomed to traditional keyboard shortcuts.
  • Dependency on Software
    Users become reliant on the Holdkey software for typing special characters, which can be a disadvantage if the software is unavailable or if users switch to a different system without Holdkey installed.

WinCompose videos

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Working with WinCompose

Holdkey videos

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Review: Holdkey Cat5e CMR FTP UV 24AWG Ethernet

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to WinCompose and Holdkey)

WinCompose

Holdkey

Character Maps
76 76%
Character Maps
24% 24
Fonts
75 75%
Fonts
25% 25
Windows Tools
72 72%
Windows Tools
28% 28
Font Manager
69 69%
Font Manager
31% 31

User comments

Share your experience with using WinCompose and Holdkey. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, WinCompose seems to be a lot more popular than Holdkey. While we know about 46 links to WinCompose, we've tracked only 1 mention of Holdkey. 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.

WinCompose mentions (46)

  • How to Use Em Dashes (–), En Dashes (–), and Hyphens (-)
    What I've been using: Install https://github.com/samhocevar/wincompose and you can then press AltGr then three hyphens to insert one. Or if you're on Linux just search for "compose key". - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Victor Mono Typeface
    Julia has made symbol input manageable and lets you define infix operators for many of the Unicode symbols that make sense for that. [1] And JuliaMono was designed to support the symbols that Julia does. [2] I generally do quite fine with my Compose Key configuration, though (even on Windows, where I use WinCompose). [3] [1]: https://docs.julialang.org/en/v1/manual/unicode-input/ [2]:... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • bach - a tool for searching compose sequences
    Credit to wincompose's GUI for inspiration, which provides similar functionality on Windows. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Client got a ridiculous IRS notice and an erroneous refund
    Or if you're on Linux or using WinCompose, you can hit Compose + s + o. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How to insert special characters?
    I really like using the idea of the compose key (although I do use digraphs, as mentioned here, once in a while). A compose key will work outside of Vim, as well. On Gnome, you can use Gnome Tweaks. Other DEs will also support this (internet search!). If you are using a plain window manager on Xorg, then read this. If you are on Windows, install Wincompose. MacOS? Who knows! All work the same way. My compose key... Source: about 2 years ago
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Holdkey mentions (1)

  • is there any sort of software/keyboard setting i can install to type em-dashes
    I used Holdkey for a while because I needed so many special characters. Not sure it's a good solution for em-dashes though. Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing WinCompose and Holdkey, you can also consider the following products

PopChar - It has never been easier to find and insert special characters.

BabelMap - Unicode Character Map for Windows

Event Viewer - Get help, support, and tutorials for Windows products—Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows 10 Mobile.

SymbSearch - A tool for searching unicode-symbols and copying it to the clipboard.

AllChars - If you're new to AllChars: start with the Introduction, see the FAQ and Manual. And finally download it. AllChars is now Open Source, usage is free and the sourcecode is available.

Gucharmap - Open source character map for the GNOME desktop environment.

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