Linux hotkeys, portal, and text input
On Linux (beta), WhisperJot tries the GlobalShortcuts portal, then evdev, then a trigger socket. Text insertion tries wtype, then ydotool or dotool, then xdotool, with clipboard tools as fallback.
How do WhisperJot hotkeys work on Linux?
Three hotkey paths are tried automatically. The desktop GlobalShortcuts portal covers Wayland on KDE Plasma, GNOME 48+, and Hyprland, and shows a consent dialog on first run. evdev needs sudo usermod -aG input $USER and then a log out and in; it gives the app raw key visibility, like Input Monitoring on macOS. A CLI trigger socket at $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/whisperjot/trigger.sock accepts hold-start, hold-end, and tap for tiling-window-manager keybinds.
How do I install tools so WhisperJot can type on Linux?
Insertion uses a chain: wtype, then ydotool or dotool, then xdotool, with clipboard fallback via wl-clipboard or xclip. Ubuntu 22.04 ships an old ydotool — prefer wtype on Wayland or xdotool on X11. ydotool needs a user service enabled.
The window itself runs via XWayland. GNOME needs the AppIndicator and KStatusNotifierItem extension for a tray icon.
- Install helpers: sudo apt install wtype ydotool xdotool xclip wl-clipboard
- Enable ydotool if you rely on it: systemctl --user enable --now ydotool
- Prefer wtype on Wayland, or xdotool on X11, especially on Ubuntu 22.04.
- For evdev hotkeys, run sudo usermod -aG input $USER and log out and back in.
Straight answers.
How do I bind WhisperJot in a tiling window manager on Linux?
Send hold-start, hold-end, or tap to $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/whisperjot/trigger.sock. That CLI trigger socket is the third hotkey path, after the GlobalShortcuts portal and evdev. Use it when your compositor will not expose a global shortcut. Pair it with wtype or xdotool so finished transcripts can be typed into the focused window.
Why does WhisperJot ask for a shortcuts consent dialog on Linux?
The GlobalShortcuts portal shows a consent dialog on first run on supported Wayland desktops: KDE Plasma, GNOME 48+, and Hyprland. Approve it so the compositor can deliver the shortcut. If the portal is unavailable, WhisperJot tries evdev (after you join the input group) or the trigger socket instead.
WhisperJot records on Linux but text never appears. What should I install?
Install the insertion tools: sudo apt install wtype ydotool xdotool xclip wl-clipboard. WhisperJot tries wtype, then ydotool or dotool, then xdotool, then clipboard fallback. Enable ydotool with systemctl --user enable --now ydotool if you use it. On Ubuntu 22.04 prefer wtype on Wayland or xdotool on X11 because the distro ydotool is old.
Updated 2026-09-01
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