cymian/mouseless v0.4.0 on GitHub

v0.4.0 is finally here! This is a highly recommended update for anyone on v0.3.1. It's a big leap forward in terms of functionality and performance, with numerous fixes and refinements.

Future stable releases should be more frequent, with smaller changesets -- this was a unique period wherein Windows, Linux, and Intel Mac versions were developed alongside major feature additions.

Feedback always appreciated! 🙏

For users on recent previews

For users on v0.4.0-preview.7 / windows_beta.5, the changes are minimal:

Daily update checks now implemented on all platforms
Platform strings are now shown in machine management dialogs (except for older Windows and Mac activations, because some Windows machines were erroneously labeled as Mac)
On Windows, fixed these keys not being recognized (and potentially causing unintended modifier taps): Home, End, PageUp, PageDown, Insert, PrintScreen, ScrollLock, Pause

The rest of these notes will be targeted toward Mac users upgrading from v0.3.1, though if you are on Mac and haven't seen the security advisory below, please read it.

(Also note that https://mouseless.click has received a minor overhaul ✨)

MacOS security advisory

On macOS, the only recommended way to run Mouseless from the command line is with the open command (e.g. open -W --stdout $(tty) --stderr $(tty) --stdin $(tty) /Applications/Mouseless.app).

If you have ever run Mouseless by executing the .app bundle's internal executable directly (e.g. /Applications/Mouseless.app/Contents/MacOS/mouseless), please take a moment to ensure you have revoked the Accessibility permission from your terminal app(s). Leaving this permission enabled for a terminal app presents a security risk, as any program launched from that terminal could potentially read screen content or log keystrokes.

To check your settings:

Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility.
Review the list. If your terminal application (e.g., Terminal, iTerm2) is present, select it and click the minus (-) button to revoke the permission.

Privacy note

I've updated the privacy policy to note that the 'platform' string sent to the license server now may include the linux distro, os version, and machine architecture (x86_64 or arm64). This will improve customer support, inform development priorities, and make it easier for users to manage their machines.

Enhancements

Tip: To get started quickly with new commands, use the restore defaults feature in keymap kebab menus.

Free mode has replaced wheel mode
- It allows you to (without bringing up the overlay) move the cursor directionally, use mouse buttons, and use the mouse wheel in the same manner as before (new default hotkeys though).
- 'Easing' settings are adjustable, for controlling the smoothness / abruptness of move and wheel motion
- hold for speed increase/decrease commands are 'stackable', i.e. assigning multiple hotkeys to a single command and pressing them simultaneously will result in an even greater increase/decrease
Keyboard layout can now be set, so overlay and hotkeys respond regardless of current system layout
Added continuous mode to keep overlay up for multiple consecutive actions. Turn on/off with the toggle continuous mode and toggle continuous mode (until closed) commands.
Added grid action level setting (in the 'Behavior' section), allowing for execution of a mouse action without bringing up the subgrid. Use the cycle grid action level command for quick selection while overlay is up.
Cursor 'nudges': with the new hold subgrid key for nudge setting, you can now refine click location (via the nudge up/left/right/down commands) while holding a subgrid keypress
Added a font setting for the the overlay. Use the cycle font and cycle font reverse commands for quick selection / previewing.
Improved custom SSL certificate experience. No more need to run from the terminal -- you will now be prompted to import the certificate on startup, and Mouseless should thereafter work whether you're on the network that requires the custom cert, or on a normal network.
New initial action location setting: system_cursor (default) or screen_center
New toggle app enabled command -- disables all hotkeys (except itself)
double tap and triple tap hotkeys now officially supported
Added direct right click, middle click, back click, and forward click commands to overlay context

Minor:

Added toggle overlay command
Improved keyboard navigation in config editor (and other windows)
Removed Import config... and Export config... from status menu -- they are available in the kebab menu at the bottom of the config editor
A link to the releases page has been added to the status menu (as Release notes)

Troubleshooting / diagnostics:

You can now can pass -h or --help to see available CLI args
Use -p on command line to print keyboard input and mouse output events (to terminal only, not to file); automatically turns off after 5 minutes to avoid accidental exposure
Use -d on command line for increased log messages (to file and terminal)
Added event tap location for troubleshooting hotkey conflicts with other apps and other custom keyboard issues
Added Display input setting/feature, for troubleshooting and demo purposes

Fixes

Fixed memory usage issues when updating config/overlay
Fixed issues where hotkeys become unresponsive
Fixed overlay not showing after lock screen, and overlay / screen count de-sync error
Fixed erroneous http signature error when attempting to activate Mouseless on a third machine
Option and Ctrl keys can now be used in hotkeys and modifier+clicks for non-QWERTY layouts
Non-English characters no longer cause validation errors in keymap
Global mouse buttons now properly drag and multi-click on all elements
The with_keyboard_focus option for initial overlay monitor should work more consistently now
Fixed issue with machine hash retrieval failing on some users' systems
Values set via cycle button/action/count commands now persist across mouse actions
Fixed hotkey for repeat last mouse action passing through to underlying app

Removals

Temporarily removed / disabled, due to new overlay implementation:

crosses is no longer an option for grid line style
when grid line style is not lines, always show subgrid is disabled

I will try to restore these in a future update.

Other

Mouse buttons w/o overlay has been renamed to Global mouse buttons
If you've had conflicts between Mouseless and BetterTouchTool hotkeys, #183 might be a good workaround for you
Website update: https://mouseless.click has received a minor overhaul, featuring an improved download experience, new 'share' links, a newsletter signup widget, improved navigation, and enhanced look and feel.

Happy clicking, everyone! 🖱️✨

- Ian