Shortcut_Hint is a desktop shortcut helper for keyboard-heavy applications.
It detects the active application, listens to the keys or mouse buttons you are pressing, and shows a lightweight overlay with matching shortcut hints. It also provides a quick search window so you can look up commands by shortcut, title, tag, or description without leaving the app you are using.
Shortcut_Hint is currently focused on Windows and includes dedicated Blender integration through a local Blender add-on.
- Shows shortcut hints for the active application.
- Opens a searchable shortcut overlay near the mouse cursor.
- Supports keyboard and mouse shortcut recording in the settings window.
- Lets you add custom application profiles and shortcut mappings.
- Provides a Blender bridge add-on for live Blender keymap, mode, and context data.
- Allows Blender shortcut titles, tags, and weights to be customized from the desktop app.
- Windows 10 or later.
- Node.js and npm.
- Blender, if you want to use the Blender integration.
Clone the repository and install dependencies:
npm installStart the development app:
npm run devIf PowerShell blocks npm.ps1, use npm.cmd instead:
npm.cmd install
npm.cmd run dev| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Enable or disable listening | CommandOrControl+Alt+H |
| Open shortcut search | CommandOrControl+Alt+F |
| Open settings | CommandOrControl+Alt+, |
You can change these shortcuts in the settings window.
- Start Shortcut_Hint.
- Open the settings window.
- Go to the Blender page.
- Click Detect Blender Paths or choose the Blender executable manually.
- Click Install Add-on.
- Start or restart Blender.
- Confirm that the Blender page shows the bridge as connected.
If automatic installation fails, build the add-on package manually:
npm run package:blender-addonThen install this file in Blender:
addons/blender_shortcut_hint.zip
In Blender, open Edit > Preferences > Add-ons, install the zip file, and enable Shortcut Hint Bridge.
Run type checking and build the Electron app:
npm run buildPowerShell alternative:
npm.cmd run buildBuild the app first:
npm run buildCreate Windows release artifacts with electron-builder:
npx electron-builderPowerShell alternative:
npm.cmd run build
npx.cmd electron-builderThe generated installer and portable build are written to:
release/
| Direction | Plan |
|---|---|
| More application adapters | Add ready-to-use profiles for Photoshop, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, AutoCAD, Unity, Unreal Engine, VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, and other shortcut-heavy tools. |
| Better profile sharing | Make it easier to import, export, and share shortcut profiles. |
| More Blender coverage | Improve mode-specific hints, custom mappings, and add-on reliability across Blender versions. |
| Cross-platform support | Explore macOS and Linux support after the Windows workflow is stable. |
| Release experience | Provide signed installers, update checks, and clearer first-run onboarding. |
Make sure Shortcut_Hint is enabled in the settings window. If another application already uses the same global shortcut, change the Shortcut_Hint shortcut in settings.
Open settings and check that the application profile is enabled and that its process name matches the running program.
Make sure Blender is running, the Shortcut Hint Bridge add-on is enabled, and the bridge port in settings matches the add-on port. The default port is 41573.
Run:
npm run package:blender-addonThen install addons/blender_shortcut_hint.zip manually from Blender Preferences.
Use npm.cmd:
npm.cmd run devThis is usually caused by Windows security software, execution policy, or a blocked child process. Try allowing the project directory in your security software, then run:
npm.cmd run build