Hey gang, we’re planning a Keyboard Maestro episode and would love any questions you have about the app that we can tackle! Hit us up below.
6 Likes
Why is it so underrated? 
7 Likes
I think you all have addressed this before, but I would love to hear what things you still use KM for vs what former KM macros you have moved to Shortcuts and why.
2 Likes
What are your tips/tricks for developing and debugging complex macros?
What would you like to see in the next major version?
What’s your funniest/silliest macro, if you have one?
3 Likes
Feel free to disregard, but I am not a Keyboard Maestro user. I tried it once, but could see enough of the rabbit hole to know I should avoid until I come across a use case that I cannot do any other way. Now I’m aware that’s a pretty low threshold based on what I know about KM, but Alfred really solves most of my needs.
So I guess my question is, what’s the tipping point of time investment to recoup your time spent learning and setting up KM? I think of it (again, not a user) as what Photoshop is for image automations, KM is for macOS automation. Photoshop has a great “automation” function (actions) that basically lets you record any series of commands in the program, save that action as a file to reuse or share. I don’t use them a ton, but when I do, it’s for extremely specific use cases where I need to do one thing a bunch on a project, and then will probably never need to do it again. So for me, the things I need to do on a regular basis, Alfred covers for me. I am curious about KM, I can just see myself neglecting other things (work for one, lol) and other automations just to learn it and set it up.
How do you choose (or do you?) which of several similar apps to use (Keyboard Maestro, Raycast, and to some extent, TextExpandr or Alfred)?
3 Likes
I have used KM for years but I remember very clearly my first year of KM where I don’t know how to start. Not because of the macro but when thinking of a use case. So, I’d like to hear some starting use case for beginners. Looking at my macro now, I believe I started with windows sizing as a use case. Macro to size my email when I double click on Mail and it opens a new window. I want that window to always stay in a place. What other use case that can entice beginners to give KM a try?
2 Likes
When I press a hotkey to do xyz I always press abc hotkey afterwards. With KM the first one triggers both. E.g. mark as read + archive in my email app, and it works when I switch to a different email app
Any new capabilities that were added to KM over the past 5 years? (Things that were missing that are now available?)
What are the automation tasks that make you go to KM vs BTT vs Alfred vs Shortcuts, etc. (What are the areas where KM shines?)
What are the aspects that you wish KM could do better?
1 Like
My question, and one you likely cannot answer, is: What is the succession plan for Keyboard Maestro once Mr. Lewis decides to retire?
3 Likes
I’d love to hear more about Keyboard Maestro. I used it for a few years, then stopped for a few years, and downloaded it and installed it recently for a very specific purpose — to be able to use my iPhone to remotely unmount an attached disk from my MacBook Pro.
I’d love to find other uses for KM. So yes to what @Topre said — use cases for beginners, please.
2 Likes
I love KM and couldn’t imagine a life without it. Decades ago, when I was still on Windows, I used Autohotkey. With AHK, it was super easy to build a GUI. Is there an easy way (incl. 3rd party tools) to do this with KM?
I second this. Finding interesting use cases would make for an enjoyable episode.
My own use of keyboard master was underwhelming. I initially used it for window placement, but this has been depreciated. I will use it for some text replacement where I can trigger a string and get a choice of what the replacement should be. This means I only have to remember one text trigger.
Its utility in tying several programs together to complete a task. Explain that if you have a project that seems to require you, the human, to move from one application to another to another to another perhaps a thousand times. This is all “doable” in the sense that you can figure out all the steps, but it is going to take forever and leave you with RSI.
KM to the rescue. I have several KM scripts that allow me to do this kind of work. Each one, I might use once or twice a year as the project recurs.
5 Likes
How do you figure out the steps/logic required to create a macro? I know it’s a noob question - and I’m a noob even though I bought the software years ago (and yes, I bought the field guide).
Every app these days wants to have some AI hook, via APIs, MCP, or whatever. AFAIK, KM doesn’t have those hooks yet as part of KM actions. There are some third party workarounds KM. If Peter is on the episode, it would be interesting to know what his plans are for AI.
Katie
(Yes, I read the the KM forum.)
1 Like
Looking forward to this one. I use KM a lot, but whenever I see what other people use it for, I realise I’m barely scratching the surface.
This is awesome. Excited for the episode. Please also do Alfred, and BetterTouchTool.
2 Likes
I bought it when it was on sale and have neither installed nor (obviously) used it yet. Motivate me!
1 Like
Can it serve as a replacement for Hazel and TextExpander? I like to keep my list of apps minimal, but useful, and was wondering about it.
Personally, it’s been my favorite way to handle all my Stream Deck shortcuts.
I’ve also grown to use it as a “little app maker”. For instance, I have a little macro that opens a menu option, lets me save the front URL from Safari in a text file, and saves it in the front-most Finder window’s location. It feels like an app without being one 