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X-Mouse Controls VS SharpKeys

Compare X-Mouse Controls VS SharpKeys and see what are their differences

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X-Mouse Controls logo X-Mouse Controls

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

SharpKeys logo SharpKeys

SharpKeys is a utility that manages a Registry key that allows Windows to remap one key to any...
  • X-Mouse Controls Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-20
  • SharpKeys Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-02

X-Mouse Controls features and specs

  • Enhanced productivity
    Allows users to quickly switch focus between windows without clicking, which can increase productivity during tasks requiring frequent window switching.
  • Customization
    Offers various customization options to suit personal preferences and work styles, such as specifying delay times and window focus behaviors.
  • Lightweight
    The software is lightweight and does not significantly consume system resources, making it suitable for running on older machines.
  • Ease of use
    User-friendly interface makes it accessible for individuals without technical expertise to configure the desired settings easily.
  • Free and open source
    X-Mouse Controls is free to use and the source code is available, allowing for community-driven improvements and transparency.

Possible disadvantages of X-Mouse Controls

  • Potential for accidental focus
    Users might accidentally change focus to another window when the mouse pointer inadvertently moves across the screen.
  • Adjustment period
    There might be an initial adjustment period for new users to get accustomed to the focus-follows-mouse logic.
  • Compatibility issues
    Some applications or environments may not fully support the focus-follows-mouse feature, leading to inconsistent behaviors.
  • Limited feature set
    Compared to other more comprehensive window management tools, it offers a fairly limited set of features focused mainly on mouse behaviors.
  • Privacy concerns
    As with any software controlling input devices, users may have privacy concerns and should vet software provenance and permissions.

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.

X-Mouse Controls videos

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SharpKeys videos

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[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 X-Mouse Controls and SharpKeys)

X-Mouse Controls

SharpKeys

Note Taking
46 46%
Note Taking
54% 54
Automation
34 34%
Automation
66% 66
Windows Tools
33 33%
Windows Tools
67% 67
Tool
100 100%
Tool
0% 0

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.

X-Mouse Controls mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of X-Mouse Controls yet. Tracking of X-Mouse Controls 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 X-Mouse Controls and SharpKeys, you can also consider the following products

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.

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

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

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

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