https://github.com/darkokuzmanovic/capsulate
Capsulate is an AutoHotkey script that enhances the functionality of the Caps Lock key on Windows systems.
https://github.com/darkokuzmanovic/capsulate
autohotkey autohotkey-script capslock-enhancement
Last synced: 5 months ago
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Capsulate is an AutoHotkey script that enhances the functionality of the Caps Lock key on Windows systems.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/darkokuzmanovic/capsulate
- Owner: DarkoKuzmanovic
- License: mit
- Created: 2024-08-21T19:35:45.000Z (almost 2 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2025-09-24T22:14:31.000Z (9 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-09-25T00:12:24.402Z (9 months ago)
- Topics: autohotkey, autohotkey-script, capslock-enhancement
- Language: AutoHotkey
- Homepage:
- Size: 171 KB
- Stars: 4
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE.md
- Agents: AGENTS.md
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# Capsulate
Capsulate 1.0.0 is a powerful AutoHotkey v2 script that transforms the Caps Lock key into a productivity powerhouse on Windows systems. It repurposes the underutilized Caps Lock key for custom actions while maintaining the ability to toggle caps lock when needed.
## 🌟 Overview
Capsulate transforms your Caps Lock key into a versatile modifier key, providing instant access to:
- 🔊 Volume and system controls
- 🪟 Advanced window management
- 📝 Smart text expansion and case conversion
- ⚡ Custom application shortcuts
- 🔧 System utilities and tools
The script features enterprise-grade reliability with comprehensive error handling, automatic updates, and a user-friendly configuration interface.
## ✨ Features
### 🎮 **Smart Caps Lock Control**
- **Modifier Key**: Use Caps Lock as a powerful modifier for shortcuts
- **Double-Click Actions**: Configurable double-click behavior (default: Esc key)
- **Traditional Toggle**: Ctrl+Caps Lock for normal caps lock functionality
- **Intelligent State Management**: Prevents conflicts and ensures reliable operation
### 🎵 **Media & System Controls**
- `Caps Lock + Up/Down`: Volume control
- `Caps Lock + BackSpace`: Volume mute
- `Caps Lock + T`: Task Manager
- `Caps Lock + W`: Windows Update settings
- `Caps Lock + Delete`: Disk Cleanup (with admin privileges)
### 🪟 **Window Management**
- `Caps Lock + Left/Right`: Virtual desktop switching
- `Caps Lock + Shift + Left/Right`: Move window between monitors
- `Caps Lock + Space`: PowerToys Run (if installed)
- `Caps Lock + C`: Color picker
### 📝 **Advanced Text Processing**
- **Text Expansion**: Convert abbreviations to full text
- **Case Conversion Chord**: `Caps Lock + K` then:
- `L`: lowercase
- `U`: UPPERCASE
- `C`: camelCase
- `T`: Title Case
- `Space`: Trim whitespace
- **Smart Clipboard Management**: Race condition prevention and throttling
### ⚡ **Quick Shortcuts**
- `Caps Lock + 0-9`: Launch custom applications/paths
- `Caps Lock + P`: Generate secure 16-character password
- `Caps Lock + E`: Expand text abbreviations
- `Caps Lock + X`: Restart XMouseButtonControl
- `Caps Lock + Alt + C`: Configuration GUI
- `Caps Lock + Alt + R`: Reload script
### 🎨 **User Experience**
- **Adaptive Theme**: Tray icon automatically switches between light/dark themes
- **Smart Tooltips**: Contextual feedback with configurable positioning
- **Configuration GUI**: Intuitive tabbed interface for settings management
- **Auto-Update**: Seamless updates from GitHub releases
## 🚀 What's New in v1.0.0
### 🛡️ **Enterprise-Grade Reliability**
- **Comprehensive Error Handling**: Bulletproof error management throughout
- **Advanced Logging**: Detailed logging with automatic file rotation
- **Configuration Validation**: Automatic validation and correction of settings
- **Security Enhancements**: Dangerous command detection for shortcuts
### ⚡ **Performance Optimizations**
- **Centralized Clipboard Manager**: Eliminates race conditions and conflicts
- **Throttled Operations**: Prevents rapid successive clipboard operations
- **Cached Theme Detection**: Reduced registry reads with 30-second caching
- **Optimized Update Intervals**: Better resource management
### 🏗️ **Modular Architecture**
- **Class-Based Design**: Clean, maintainable code structure
- **Constants Management**: Centralized configuration values
- **Theme Manager**: Intelligent theme detection and caching
- **Config Validator**: Robust input validation and sanitization
### 🔧 **Enhanced Configuration**
- **Semantic Version Comparison**: Proper version checking for updates
- **Input Validation**: All settings validated with safe fallbacks
- **Security Checks**: Prevents execution of dangerous commands
- **Backup & Recovery**: Configuration corruption protection
## 📋 **Complete Hotkey Reference**
### Core Controls
| Hotkey | Action |
|--------|--------|
| `Double-Click Caps Lock` | Configurable action (default: Esc) |
| `Ctrl + Caps Lock` | Toggle Caps Lock state |
### Media & Volume
| Hotkey | Action |
|--------|--------|
| `Caps Lock + Up` | Volume Up |
| `Caps Lock + Down` | Volume Down |
| `Caps Lock + BackSpace` | Volume Mute |
### Window Management
| Hotkey | Action |
|--------|--------|
| `Caps Lock + Left` | Switch to left virtual desktop |
| `Caps Lock + Right` | Switch to right virtual desktop |
| `Caps Lock + Shift + Left` | Move window to left monitor |
| `Caps Lock + Shift + Right` | Move window to right monitor |
### Text Processing
| Hotkey | Action |
|--------|--------|
| `Caps Lock + E` | Expand text abbreviation |
| `Caps Lock + K, L` | Convert selected text to lowercase |
| `Caps Lock + K, U` | Convert selected text to UPPERCASE |
| `Caps Lock + K, C` | Convert selected text to camelCase |
| `Caps Lock + K, T` | Convert selected text to Title Case |
| `Caps Lock + K, Space` | Trim whitespace from selected text |
### Utilities
| Hotkey | Action |
|--------|--------|
| `Caps Lock + P` | Generate secure password |
| `Caps Lock + T` | Open Task Manager |
| `Caps Lock + W` | Open Windows Update |
| `Caps Lock + C` | Color picker |
| `Caps Lock + Delete` | Disk Cleanup (admin) |
| `Caps Lock + X` | Restart XMouseButtonControl |
### Configuration & Management
| Hotkey | Action |
|--------|--------|
| `Caps Lock + Alt + C` | Open Configuration GUI |
| `Caps Lock + Alt + R` | Reload Script |
### Custom Shortcuts
| Hotkey | Action |
|--------|--------|
| `Caps Lock + 0-9` | Launch custom application/path |
## ⚙️ Configuration
### Settings File (`config.ini`)
```ini
[General]
CapsLockTimeout=300 # Double-click timeout (50-5000ms)
DoubleClickCount=2 # Clicks needed for double-click (1-5)
ToolTipPosition=1 # 0: Near tray, 1: Near mouse
DoubleClickAction={Esc} # Action on double-click
[Shortcuts]
1=C:\ # Caps Lock + 1 launches C:\
2=D:\ # Caps Lock + 2 launches D:\
0=D:\source\repos # Caps Lock + 0 launches repos folder
```
### Text Expansions (`expansions.ini`)
```ini
[Expansions]
btw=by the way
omg=oh my god
email=your.email@example.com
sig=Best regards,\nYour Name
```
### Configuration GUI
Access the intuitive configuration interface with `Caps Lock + Alt + C`:
- **General Tab**: Core settings and timeout configuration
- **Text Expander Tab**: Manage abbreviations and expansions
- Real-time validation and error checking
## 📥 Installation
1. **Download** the latest `Capsulate.ahk` from [Releases](https://github.com/DarkoKuzmanovic/Capsulate/releases)
2. **Install** [AutoHotkey v2.0+](https://www.autohotkey.com/download/)
3. **Run** `Capsulate.ahk` (double-click or run from command line)
4. **Configure** using the tray menu or `Caps Lock + Alt + C`
### Auto-Start (Optional)
Enable "Run at Startup" from the tray menu to launch Capsulate automatically when Windows starts.
## 🔧 Requirements
- **Windows 10/11** (any edition)
- **AutoHotkey v2.0+** (required)
- **Administrator privileges** (for some features like Disk Cleanup)
## 📊 Advanced Features
### Logging & Debugging
- Comprehensive logging to `capsulate.log`
- Automatic log rotation at 1MB
- Error tracking and performance monitoring
- Debug information for troubleshooting
### Security
- Input validation for all configuration values
- Dangerous command detection for custom shortcuts
- Secure password generation with cryptographic randomness
- Protected update mechanism with file verification
### Performance
- Optimized clipboard operations with mutex protection
- Cached theme detection (30-second intervals)
- Throttled system calls to prevent conflicts
- Memory-efficient string operations
## 🤝 Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Here's how to get started:
1. **Fork** the repository
2. **Create** a feature branch (`git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature`)
3. **Commit** your changes (`git commit -m 'Add amazing feature'`)
4. **Push** to the branch (`git push origin feature/amazing-feature`)
5. **Open** a Pull Request
For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss your ideas.
### Development Guidelines
- Follow AutoHotkey v2 best practices
- Add comprehensive error handling
- Include logging for debugging
- Test thoroughly on different Windows versions
- Update documentation for new features
## 🐛 Troubleshooting
### Common Issues
- **Script won't start**: Ensure AutoHotkey v2.0+ is installed
- **Shortcuts not working**: Check for conflicting software
- **Update failures**: Verify internet connection and GitHub access
- **Configuration errors**: Use the GUI to reset to defaults
### Debug Information
Check `capsulate.log` for detailed error information and performance metrics.
## 📄 License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the [LICENSE](LICENSE.md) file for details.
## 🙏 Acknowledgments
- AutoHotkey community for the amazing scripting language
- Contributors and beta testers
- Users providing feedback and feature requests
---
**Made with ❤️ by [Darko Kuzmanovic](https://github.com/DarkoKuzmanovic)**
*Transform your productivity with Capsulate - because your Caps Lock key deserves better!*