{
 "schemaVersion": 1,
 "generated": "2026-10-30",
 "dataLicense": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
 "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
 "notice": "Data from Open Source Everything (https://opensourceeverything.org), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0: use it freely, credit the site, link to the page, and share changes under the same license. Listings were drafted with AI assistance and are managed by the r/TrueOpenSource moderators; check a project's own page before relying on a fact.",
 "id": "desktop-automation",
 "name": "Desktop automation and macros",
 "page": "https://opensourceeverything.org/g/desktop-automation/",
 "category": "utilities",
 "categoryName": "Computer utilities",
 "job": "Automating clicks, keys and text snippets on your computer",
 "closedApps": [
  "Keyboard Maestro",
  "Power Automate Desktop"
 ],
 "coverage": "one-full",
 "alternatives": [
  {
   "id": "actiona",
   "name": "Actiona",
   "page": "https://opensourceeverything.org/p/actiona/",
   "summary": "Actiona is a free program that automates everyday computer tasks, such as moving the mouse, pressing keys, typing text, and opening files or links. It is for people who want to set up repeated computer tasks without doing them by hand, and it can be used through a simple editor or through JavaScript code.",
   "kind": "app",
   "setup": "easy",
   "setupWhy": "Install it like a normal app, or use it in your browser.",
   "platforms": [
    "windows",
    "linux"
   ],
   "license": "GPL-3.0",
   "licenseClass": "open",
   "licenseNeedsCheck": false,
   "stars": 743,
   "forks": null,
   "status": "active",
   "verified": false,
   "latestRelease": null,
   "code": "https://github.com/Jmgr/actiona",
   "website": null,
   "download": null,
   "release": null,
   "family": null,
   "familyChildren": [],
   "howToHelp": null,
   "project": "actiona",
   "rank": 1,
   "fit": "full",
   "note": null,
   "why": "Does the whole job · Easy setup",
   "score": 61.6
  },
  {
   "id": "espanso",
   "name": "espanso",
   "page": "https://opensourceeverything.org/p/espanso/",
   "summary": "Espanso is a free program that watches what you type and replaces short keywords with longer text, such as full sentences, emojis or dates. It is for people on Windows, macOS and Linux who type the same things often.",
   "kind": "app",
   "setup": "easy",
   "setupWhy": "Install it like a normal app, or use it in your browser.",
   "platforms": [
    "windows",
    "mac",
    "linux"
   ],
   "license": "GPL-3.0",
   "licenseClass": "open",
   "licenseNeedsCheck": false,
   "stars": 14689,
   "forks": null,
   "status": "active",
   "verified": false,
   "latestRelease": null,
   "code": "https://github.com/espanso/espanso",
   "website": "https://espanso.org",
   "download": null,
   "release": null,
   "family": null,
   "familyChildren": [],
   "howToHelp": null,
   "project": "espanso",
   "rank": 2,
   "fit": "partial",
   "note": "Covers text snippets and some scripts; no mouse clicks or general macros stated",
   "why": "Does part of the job · Easy setup",
   "score": 43.5
  },
  {
   "id": "autokey",
   "name": "AutoKey",
   "page": "https://opensourceeverything.org/p/autokey/",
   "summary": "AutoKey is a free program for Linux that lets you automate repeated keyboard and mouse actions, and save text snippets to type with a short shortcut. It is for Linux computer users who want to reduce repetitive typing and clicking.",
   "kind": "app",
   "setup": "easy",
   "setupWhy": "Install it like a normal app, or use it in your browser.",
   "platforms": [
    "linux"
   ],
   "license": "GPL-3.0",
   "licenseClass": "open",
   "licenseNeedsCheck": false,
   "stars": 3902,
   "forks": null,
   "status": "active",
   "verified": false,
   "latestRelease": null,
   "code": "https://github.com/autokey/autokey",
   "website": null,
   "download": null,
   "release": null,
   "family": null,
   "familyChildren": [],
   "howToHelp": null,
   "project": "autokey",
   "rank": 3,
   "fit": "partial",
   "note": "Linux only and needs X11, not Wayland; no Mac or Windows version.",
   "why": "Does part of the job · Easy setup",
   "score": 39.8
  },
  {
   "id": "hammerspoon",
   "name": "Hammerspoon",
   "page": "https://opensourceeverything.org/p/hammerspoon/",
   "summary": "Hammerspoon is a free tool for Mac computers that lets people automate tasks by writing short scripts in the Lua language. It is aimed at Mac users who want to control their computer with custom rules, and it does nothing until a user writes a configuration file.",
   "kind": "developer_tool",
   "setup": "advanced",
   "setupWhy": "Made for developers: you use it from code or the command line.",
   "platforms": [
    "mac"
   ],
   "license": "MIT",
   "licenseClass": "open",
   "licenseNeedsCheck": false,
   "stars": 16334,
   "forks": null,
   "status": "active",
   "verified": false,
   "latestRelease": null,
   "code": "https://github.com/Hammerspoon/hammerspoon",
   "website": "https://www.hammerspoon.org",
   "download": null,
   "release": null,
   "family": null,
   "familyChildren": [],
   "howToHelp": null,
   "project": "hammerspoon",
   "rank": 4,
   "fit": "partial",
   "note": "Needs writing Lua scripts; no ready-made macro recorder mentioned.",
   "why": "Does part of the job · Advanced setup",
   "score": 38.6
  }
 ],
 "source": "https://opensourceeverything.org/g/desktop-automation/",
 "group": "Desktop automation and macros",
 "replaces": [
  "Keyboard Maestro",
  "Power Automate Desktop"
 ]
}