Ask HN: OS-level tool to sync input across applications / processes?
Is there a tool or workflow that can sync an arbitrary block of text from a text field / text area in one app to an arbitrary text field / text area in another app, in real time?
I've had this on my application wish list for workflow / productivity / tools / programming for years, and have never been able to find something like this.
An example use-case might be:
- User types "Hello" in Description field of appOne, where it is persisted normally.
- On each keystroke, or perhaps every ~1s, that same content is synced to the Description field in appTwo.
- Both appOne and appTwo could be browser tabs.
- appOne could be a native app with appTwo being a browser tab, or vice versa.
- appOne could even be a game instance, with appTwo being a Notes application.
- Think "multi-cursor" features in IDEs, but across apps, across processes.
Windows solution preferred, but if this kind of tech is even remotely possible, I'd be willing to switch platforms for times where this workflow would be a game changer.
Possible matches:
My gut tells me that tools like Synergy, Parsec, or AutoHotkey might have the right kind of DNA to make this happen, but in the end, I'm grasping at straws trying to figure out how focus states, keyboard events, or text content could be redirected like this.
Thank you!