# jtroo/kanata

Improve keyboard comfort and usability with advanced customization

Repository: https://github.com/jtroo/kanata
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/kanata
Language: Rust
License: LGPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Topics: keyboard, rust, cross-platform, linux, windows, interception-driver, keyboard-layout, mouse, mouse-emulation, macos
Last push: 2026-08-26T06:35:23+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 93/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 80, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 1598, "days_push": 7, "days_rel": 59, "gap_med": 84, "n_releases_24m": 8}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 7808, forks 284 (observed 2026-08-28T04:10:05.202654+00:00)

## What it is
Kanata is a cross-platform software keyboard remapper for Linux, macOS, and Windows written in Rust. It supports multiple layers of key functionality and advanced key behavior customization such as tap-hold, macros, and unicode input.

## Use cases
- remap keyboard keys on linux windows and macos
- create multiple keyboard layers like shift but for any key
- set up tap-hold keys for home row mods
- configure keyboard macros and unicode input
- emulate mouse actions from the keyboard
- improve keyboard ergonomics with custom layouts

## When to choose
- you want deep, code-like configuration of key behavior across layers
- you need a free cross-platform remapper without buying a QMK-compatible keyboard
- you want tap-hold, macros, or unicode features beyond simple key swaps

## When to avoid
- you only need simple key swaps and prefer a GUI tool
- you need per-application remapping with a graphical interface
- you cannot run a background process or grant driver-level input permissions

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: developer-tools, configuration-management
- domain: developer-tools, cross-platform
- platform: windows, cross-platform
- tags: keyboard-remapper, keyboard-layout, mouse-emulation, key-customization, ergonomics, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- jtroo/kanata (main) score 93

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:10:05.202654+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T17:34:19.635895+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/jtroo/kanata (fetched 2026-08-28T04:10:05.202654+00:00, sha b14c03b67d60)
  - registry_crates: https://crates.io/api/v1/crates/kanata (fetched 2026-08-29T08:30:42.233720+00:00, sha ead07f677575)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.