App Hot Key

A simple AutoHotkey script for quickly launching or switching to your applications using keyboard shortcuts.

I wanted Vim-style chorded keys to jump between the apps I use all day. Windows doesn't really have a good answer for that, and alt tab is for normies <3

• Windows operating system
• AutoHotkey v2.0+

1. Install AutoHotkey v2
2. Download the script
   • Clone the repo:

   git clone https://github.com/kylegl/app-hot-key.git
   

   • Or download appHotKey.ahk directly
3. Double-click the script to run it

Press Win + R, type shell:startup, and press Enter

Then either:

• Copy the .ahk file into the Startup folder
• Or create a shortcut to the .ahk file and move it there

The script will now launch automatically when you sign in

Press <leader> followed by a key to launch or focus an application

Examples:

• <leader> + 1 → Chrome
• <leader> + 2 → VS Code
• <leader> + 3 → Discord
• <leader> + 4 → Spotify
• <leader> + 5 → Terminal

How it works:

• If the app is already running, it brings it to the foreground
• If the app is not running, it launches it

Default Configuration

LEADER_KEY := "!Space"   ; Change this to remap the hotkey trigger
DEBUG_MODE := false      ; Set to true to enable debug logging
INPUT_TIMEOUT := 1       ; How long (seconds) to wait for key press
LOG_FILE_NAME := "debug.log"  ; Debug log filename

Change the leader key

• Modify LEADER_KEY at the top of the script
• Example: Change "!Space" to "^Space" for Ctrl+Space

Add or change apps

• Edit the Apps Map in the script
• Each entry uses the format: "key", {Name: "...", Path: "...", Window: "...", TitlePattern: "..."}
• Properties:
  • Name (required): Display name
  • Path (required): Command to execute (can include arguments)
  • Window (required): AHK window identifier (typically ahk_exe process.exe)
  • TitlePattern (optional): Regex for matching window titles

Example:

"1", {Name: "Chrome", Path: "chrome.exe", Window: "ahk_exe chrome.exe", TitlePattern: ".* - Google Chrome$"}
"2", {Name: "Discord", Path: 'cmd.exe /c "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Discord\Update.exe --processStart Discord.exe"', Window: "ahk_exe Discord.exe"}

Change slot keys

• Change the Apps map keys
• Example: Change "1" to "a" to use the letter 'a' as a slot key

Enable debug mode

• Set DEBUG_MODE to true at the top of the script
• Debug logs are written to debug.log in the script's directory
• Check the log file for troubleshooting information

MIT License © Kyle Lauber