https://github.com/nadimkobeissi/binkybox
Keyboard shortcuts for virtual desktops on Windows
https://github.com/nadimkobeissi/binkybox
virtual-desktop virtual-desktops windows windows-11 windows-desktop windows-virtual-desktop
Last synced: 5 months ago
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Keyboard shortcuts for virtual desktops on Windows
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/nadimkobeissi/binkybox
- Owner: nadimkobeissi
- License: mit
- Created: 2023-11-11T14:52:08.000Z (over 2 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2025-04-19T13:07:58.000Z (about 1 year ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-10-09T01:47:07.627Z (9 months ago)
- Topics: virtual-desktop, virtual-desktops, windows, windows-11, windows-desktop, windows-virtual-desktop
- Language: Rust
- Homepage:
- Size: 55.7 KB
- Stars: 51
- Watchers: 5
- Forks: 3
- Open Issues: 3
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# BinkyBox
## Problem
Windows 10 [introduced virtual desktop support in 2015](https://www.pcworld.com/article/1936035/virtual-desktops-more-space-and-order-with-windows-10-and-11.html). This led to the obsolescence of third-party virtual desktop software, which is a problem, since Windows's native virtual desktop support lacks two very important features:
1. Ability to hop from one desktop to another directly without going through intermediate desktops in between (for example, going straight from desktop 1 to desktop 3) via keyboard shortcuts.
2. Ability to see which desktop you're on right now thanks to a system tray icon.
Indeed, Windows 11 only comes with two shortcuts for navigating virtual desktops:
- _Win+Ctrl+🠊_: Switch a desktop to the right.
- _Win+Ctrl+🠈_: Switch a desktop to the left.
Not only is this ridiculous, but there's no way to add additional shortcuts without writing code that calls Windows's exposed COM API directly.
## Solution
**BinkyBox** lets you _hop_ from one desktop to another via keyboard shortcuts and adds a useful system tray icon so you know which desktop you're on. The logo is a cute bunny because bunnies hop. Like you're hopping from one desktop to another. Using keyboard shortcuts. Let's all hop together using BinkyBox.
A "binky" is a word for [a kind of happy hop that bunnies do](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0ivoIr_xnQ).
### Incredible Features
- Hop from one virtual desktop to another _directly_ using incredible keyboard shortcuts.
- See which virtual desktop you're on right now via a system tray icon.
- Written in Rust, leading to very low (almost nonexistent) background resource usage.
I may add other features later.
### Feature Requests Welcome
I use BinkyBox daily at work. If you use it a lot too, please don't hesitate to ask for features by opening a GitHub issue. I will likely maintain this software for as long as I continue to use Windows.
### Tested Platforms
| Windows | Tested |
|--------------------|------------|
| Windows 11 23H2 | ✔️ |
| Windows 11 (Older) | ✔️ |
| Windows 10 | ❌ |
## Build and Use
### Download the App
You can get pre-build binaries from the [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/nadimkobeissi/binkybox/releases) page.
### Compile it Yourself
You will need to have [Rust](https://rustup.rs) installed.
```bash
git clone https://github.com/nadimkobeissi/binkybox
cd binkybox
cargo build --release
```
The `.exe` will be in `target/release`.
## Setting Keyboard Shortcuts
Right click the tray icon and open _Settings_ in order to set your own keyboard shortcuts. BinkyBox keyboard shortcuts follow this layout: `MODIFIER+OPTIONAL_MODIFIER+OPTIONAL_MODIFIER+OPTIONAL_MODIFIER+ALPHANUMERIC_CHAR_OR_FKEY`.
The first modifier is required, and ending the sequence with an alphanumeric character is also required.
- **Supported Modifiers**: `LCTRL`, `RCTRL`, `LALT`, `RALT`, `LWIN`, `RWIN`, `LSHIFT`, `RSHIFT` and F keys (`F1` to `F12`).
- **Example Keyboard Shortcuts**: `LCTRL+LALT+1`, `LWIN+LSHIFT+1`
BinkyBox will reject keyboard shortcuts not specified using the layout above, so make sure you enter your keyboard shortcuts correctly. Keyboard shortcuts (and other settings) will be saved in a `binkybox.config.json` file located in the same directory as the BinkyBox executable.
## Adding to Windows Startup
You can make BinkyBox start automatically on Windows startup when you log in:
1. Create a shortcut for `binkybox.exe` by right-clicking it.
2. Press _Win+R_ to open Run, and type in `shell:common startup`.
3. Paste the BinkyBox shortcut you created in Step 1 inside the resulting Startup folder.
## License and Author
License: MIT. Author: [Nadim Kobeissi](https://nadim.computer)