GO — Healthy across the board

• Last commit 2d ago
• 20 active contributors
• Distributed ownership (top contributor 45% of recent commits)
• LGPL-3.0 licensed
• CI configured
• Tests present
• ⚠ LGPL-3.0 is copyleft — check downstream compatibility

_{Computed from maintenance signals — commit recency, contributor breadth, bus factor, license, CI, tests}

Kanata is a cross-platform software keyboard remapper written in Rust that runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It enables advanced key behavior customization through multi-layer functionality, tap-hold mechanics, macros, and Unicode support—allowing users to remap any key and create custom layers similar to how Shift works, but applied programmatically to arbitrary keys for ergonomic and productivity improvements. Monorepo using Cargo workspaces (Cargo.toml members array) with core state machine in src/lib.rs (kanata_state_machine library), CLI entry point in src/main.rs, and specialized crates: parser/ handles config parsing, keyberon/ (kanata-keyberon fork) manages key logic, tcp_protocol/ enables remote control, simulated_input/ abstracts OS input injection, and platform-specific code in src/ using cfg guards for Linux/macOS/Windows. Config samples in cfg_samples/ demonstrate real usage.

Keyboard enthusiasts, ergonomic-focused developers, and power users who want to customize keyboard behavior beyond OS-level remapping. Specifically: users of mechanical keyboards seeking layer-based layouts, people with RSI concerns needing home-row modifiers or tap-hold keys, and anyone running Linux/macOS/Windows who needs fine-grained keyboard control without vendor-specific software.

Actively developed and production-ready: version 1.12.0-prerelease-2 in Cargo.toml shows ongoing development, comprehensive GitHub Actions workflows (linux-build.yml, macos-build.yml, windows-build.yml, rust.yml) indicate solid CI/CD, and extensive cfg_samples/ with 40+ configuration examples demonstrate maturity. The codebase is ~1.97M lines of Rust with established patterns, though the 'prerelease' tag suggests final polish is ongoing.

Low-to-moderate risk: single maintainer (jtroo) and prerelease versioning are concerns, but extensive platform-specific tests (build.rs compilation, OS-specific dependencies) and a known-issues document (docs/platform-known-issues.adoc) suggest awareness of edge cases. Dependencies are stable Rust ecosystem crates (parking_lot, serde_json, clap, evdev); the real risk is OS-level driver interaction (Interception on Windows, evdev on Linux, karabiner-driverkit on macOS) requiring elevated privileges and potential breakage on OS updates.

Active prerelease development (version 1.12.0-prerelease-2) with recent config extensions (deflayermap.kbd, key-toggle samples), ongoing platform hardening (separate build workflows per OS), and community support infrastructure (ISSUE_TEMPLATE/, pull_request_template.md, discussion links in README). The online simulator (https://jtroo.github.io) suggests parallel web development in wasm/ workspace member.

git clone https://github.com/jtroo/kanata && cd kanata
rustup update stable
cargo build --release
# Linux/macOS may require sudo:
sudo ./target/release/kanata --cfg cfg_samples/minimal.kbd
# Windows: Run as Administrator
.\target\release\kanata.exe --cfg cfg_samples\minimal.kbd

Or install via cargo install kanata (may need sudo on Linux/macOS).

Daily commands: Dev build + run: cargo build && cargo run -- --cfg cfg_samples/minimal.kbd. Release: cargo build --release && ./target/release/kanata --cfg <config_file>. Windows: Requires Administrator; optionally use EnableUIAccess/EnableUIAccess_launch.ahk for privilege elevation. Linux/macOS: May require sudo for input device access. Test: cargo test (runs all workspace tests). Cross-compile: Use cargo build --target <triple> with appropriate OS target.

• src/main.rs — Entry point for the kanata binary; orchestrates keyboard input/output initialization and main event loop
• src/lib.rs — Core state machine library (kanata_state_machine); contains the keyboard remapping logic and layer management
• Cargo.toml — Workspace root defining all member crates and cross-platform dependencies (Windows, macOS, Linux drivers)
• parser/src/lib.rs — Configuration file parser (.kbd format); any config syntax changes require updates here
• docs/config.adoc — Authoritative reference for all configuration features; essential for understanding what the state machine must support
• .github/workflows/build-everything.yml — CI/CD pipeline for cross-platform builds; defines platform-specific build requirements and test matrix
• keyberon/Cargo.toml — Embedded keyberon matrix keyboard support; critical dependency for handling keyboard matrix layouts

Add a new keyboard action type (tap-hold, macro, etc.)

1. Define the action variant in the state machine enum (src/lib.rs)
2. Implement action execution logic in the event handler (src/lib.rs)
3. Add parsing rule in the configuration parser (parser/src/lib.rs)
4. Update configuration documentation with usage examples (docs/config.adoc)
5. Add example in sample config file (cfg_samples/kanata.kbd)

Support a new hardware platform (new OS or keyboard matrix format)

1. Create platform module (or extend keyberon for matrix keyboards) (keyberon/src/lib.rs)
2. Implement platform-specific input driver (src/main.rs)
3. Implement platform-specific output driver in simulated_input (simulated_input/src/lib.rs)
4. Add platform-specific CI/CD workflow (.github/workflows/build-everything.yml)
5. Document setup and known issues (docs/platform-known-issues.adoc)

Add a new remote control feature via TCP protocol

1. Define new message types in protocol (tcp_protocol/src/lib.rs)
2. Implement message handler in main state machine (src/lib.rs)
3. Add example TCP client demonstrating feature (example_tcp_client/src/main.rs)
4. Document new protocol messages in config guide (docs/config.adoc)

Add a new configuration directive or syntax feature

1. Extend the LISP-like parser to recognize new syntax (parser/src/lib.rs)
2. Update state machine to handle new configuration option (src/lib.rs)
3. Add syntax rules and examples to AsciiDoc reference (docs/config.adoc)
4. Create example .kbd file demonstrating the feature (cfg_samples/kanata.kbd)

• Rust — Memory safety without garbage collection; critical for low-latency keyboard input/output and cross-platform system programming
• Windows Interception Driver — Low-level keyboard capture on Windows bypassing normal input queues; only way to achieve sub-millisecond remapping
• Keyberon embedded library — Handles complex matrix-based keyboard layouts (split, ortholinear); avoids reimplementing matrix scanning logic
• LISP-like configuration syntax (.kbd) — Expressive, homoiconic format allows complex key behaviors (macros, chords) to be represented naturally
• TCP protocol layer — Allows external tools to query/control kanata state without shell integration or IPC complexity

• Single event loop processing all platform events into state machine

  • Why: Simpler concurrency model; ensures deterministic ordering of layer switches and macros
  • Consequence: Heavy computational work (long macros) can block input responsiveness; mitigation needed for very complex configs

• Platform driver implementations are separate (Interception for Windows, mach2 for macOS, evdev for Linux)

  • Why: Each OS has fundamentally different low-level keyboard APIs; code reuse minimal
  • Consequence: Bugs and features must be implemented per-platform; increased maintenance burden

• Configuration reloading at runtime without restart

  • Why: Improves user experience for iterating on layer/macro definitions
  • Consequence: State machine must safely transition between config versions; risk of inconsistent state if reload occurs mid-action

• Embedded keyberon as vendored dependency rather than external crate

  • Why: Keyberon API changes frequently; vendoring ensures stability
  • Consequence: Must manually merge upstream keyberon fixes; not automatically inheriting bug fixes

• Does not handle OS-level authentication or UI access control (relies on user-granted permissions)
• Does not provide GUI configuration editor (text-based .kbd configs only)
• Does not support arbitrary key code injection from untrusted sources (TCP API requires local trust)
• Not intended for real-time operating systems or sub-millisecond latency guarantees
• Does not support chaining multiple kanata instances or recursive remapping

Windows: Requires Interception driver (assets/Interception.zip) and Administrator/UIAccess privilege; EnableUIAccess/EnableUIAccess_launch.ahk helper needed for non-admin context. Linux: Must run as root or in sudoers for /dev/input access; inotify watches for device hotplug. macOS: karabiner-driverkit requires system extension approval and kernel security; Sequoia+ requires additional steps. All platforms: Process must stay running (no background daemon by default—see discussions #193, #130 in README). Config parsing: .kbd syntax is custom and strict; typos fail silently in some cases—test in online simulator first. Cargo workspaces: Some crates (keyberon, parser) are path dependencies; cargo build -p kanata-keyberon requires correct relative paths.

• Layer-based key remapping — Core concept of kanata—understanding how layers switch and persist is essential to all config design; differs from simple key-to-key substitution
• Tap-hold behavior (tap vs. long-press detection) — Fundamental to kanata's ergonomic features (home-row mods, tap-hold keys); understanding timing and state machines prevents user confusion

• karaokemugen/karaokebase — Not directly related; included as negative example—disregard this entry
• qmk/qmk_firmware — Firmware-level equivalent for programmable keyboards; kanata is software-level alternative for existing keyboards without custom firmware
• remap-keys/remap — Browser-based QMK remapper; kanata targets keyboards already running stock OS drivers
• keyberon/keyberon — Original keyberon library that kanata forks in keyberon/ directory; understanding upstream helps with layer/timing logic
• rszyma/kanata-tray — Companion tray application using kanata's tcp_protocol/ for GUI control and background launch; ecosystem tool for kanata

To work on one of these in Claude Code or Cursor, paste: Implement the "<title>" PR idea from CLAUDE.md, working through the checklist as the task list.

Add integration tests for cfg_samples configuration files

The repo contains 15+ sample keyboard configuration files (cfg_samples/*.kbd) but there's no automated testing to verify they parse correctly and don't have regressions. This is critical since these are shipped as examples and users rely on them. Adding integration tests would catch parser breaking changes early and ensure all samples remain valid.

• [ ] Create tests/integration_tests.rs with test cases for each cfg_samples/*.kbd file
• [ ] Use kanata_parser to validate parsing of each config without errors
• [ ] Add assertions for expected key counts/layer counts for known configs like minimal.kbd and colemak.kbd
• [ ] Integrate test into CI pipeline by updating .github/workflows/rust.yml to run integration tests
• [ ] Document test approach in docs/README.md

Add platform-specific CI workflow for macOS karabiner-driverkit dependency validation

The Cargo.toml shows macOS-specific dependency on karabiner-driverkit (0.3.0), but .github/workflows/macos-build.yml may not validate that this external dependency remains compatible across macOS versions. This is a high-value stability concern since driver kit changes break macOS builds.

• [ ] Review current .github/workflows/macos-build.yml to check macOS version matrix (currently may only test one version)
• [ ] Expand workflow to test against multiple macOS versions (e.g., 12, 13, 14)
• [ ] Add explicit validation step that confirms karabiner-driverkit can be linked without warnings
• [ ] Document macOS build requirements in docs/setup-macos.md with minimum OS version

Add comprehensive feature documentation for sample configs and create index in docs/

There are 15+ config samples in cfg_samples/ with varying complexity (minimal.kbd, home-row-mod-.kbd, automousekeys-.kbd, fancy_symbols.kbd, artsey.kbd) but no docs/config-samples.adoc or similar explaining what each demonstrates. Users can't easily discover which sample matches their use case.

• [ ] Create docs/config-samples.adoc with a table of all samples in cfg_samples/
• [ ] For each sample, document: purpose, key features demonstrated, target use case, and link to file
• [ ] Add special sections for home-row-mod variants explaining differences between basic/advanced/prior-idle versions
• [ ] Update docs/README.md with link to new config-samples guide
• [ ] Consider adding callouts in docs/config.adoc pointing to relevant samples for each feature

• Add missing config sample for macro chaining: Create cfg_samples/macro-sequences.kbd demonstrating sequential macros with delays, filling a gap visible in the comprehensive-but-incomplete samples list (e.g., no advanced macro composition example like fancy_symbols.kbd has).
• Improve platform-known-issues.adoc with version-specific macOS workarounds: The file exists (docs/platform-known-issues.adoc) but Sequoia+ karabiner-driverkit issues are likely under-documented; add tested steps for users on latest macOS.
• Write integration tests for tap-hold edge cases in keyberon/: The home-row-mod-*.kbd samples show complex timing logic but keyberon/src/ likely lacks explicit tests for rapid re-press scenarios; add test cases validating tap vs. hold detection at 50ms, 200ms, and 500ms intervals.

The Kanata keyboard remapper project shows generally good security practices with no obvious hardcoded credentials, injection vulnerabilities, or exposed secrets detected. However, there are several areas requiring attention: (1) The malformed 'mio' dependency declaration needs immediate correction to ensure proper dependency resolution, (2) An invalid Rust edition specification must be updated, (3) As a low-level input device handler with complex configuration parsing, the project should implement robust input validation and fuzz testing, (4) The multi-platform nature and use of platform-specific C/FFI bindings introduce additional complexity that requires careful auditing of unsafe code. Regular dependency scanning with 'cargo-audit', comprehensive configuration parsing tests, and platform-specific security reviews are recommended.

• Medium · Incomplete Dependency Declaration — Cargo.toml - [target.'cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "android"))'.dependencies]. The dependency 'mio' in the Linux/Android target section appears to have an incomplete or malformed declaration. The version specification is missing, which could lead to unpredictable dependency resolution and potentially pull in vulnerable versions. Fix: Specify an explicit version for the 'mio' dependency (e.g., 'mio = "0.8.0"' or use a version range). Review Cargo.lock to verify the resolved version and audit for known vulnerabilities in the resolved version.
• Low · Use of Deprecated Edition 2024 — Cargo.toml - [package] section. The Cargo.toml specifies 'edition = "2024"' which does not exist as of Rust's current release cycle. Valid editions are 2015, 2018, and 2021. This may cause build failures or unexpected behavior depending on the Rust toolchain version. Fix: Update to a valid Rust edition such as 'edition = "2021"'. Verify the project builds correctly with the standard edition.
• Low · Input Handling in Keyboard Remapper — kanata-parser crate and cfg_samples/ directory. As a keyboard remapping application that processes hardware input and configuration files, there is potential risk for configuration parsing vulnerabilities. The presence of multiple .kbd configuration files and parser module suggests complex parsing logic that could be vulnerable to malformed input. Fix: Ensure the parser (kanata-parser) has comprehensive input validation and error handling. Implement fuzz testing on configuration file parsing. Review the parser implementation for potential panic conditions or unvalidated input processing.
• Low · Platform-Specific Code Complexity — Multiple platform-specific target configurations in Cargo.toml and EnableUIAccess/ directory. The project supports multiple platforms (Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly, Android) with platform-specific dependencies and code paths. This increases the surface area for platform-specific vulnerabilities and maintenance challenges. Fix: Maintain separate security testing and audit processes for each platform. Keep platform-specific dependencies up to date. Consider using security scanning tools that support platform-specific code analysis.
• Low · Unsafe Code Potential — Cargo.toml [lib] section, macOS-specific dependencies, EnableUIAccess/ directory. The use of 'staticlib' in crate-type and platform-specific C/Objective-C bindings (objc, core-graphics, core-foundation, libc) suggests unsafe code is likely present. The EnableUIAccess component with AutoHotkey scripts also represents code execution risk. Fix: Audit all unsafe code blocks with particular scrutiny on FFI boundaries. Document unsafe code with safety invariants. Consider using 'cargo-audit' and 'clippy' with strict linting. Review AutoHotkey scripts for injection vulnerabilities.

LLM-derived; treat as a starting point, not a security audit.

• Open issues — current backlog
• Recent PRs — what's actively shipping
• Source on GitHub

If you are an AI coding agent (Claude Code, Cursor, Aider, Cline, etc.) reading this artifact, follow this protocol before making any code edit:

1. Verify the contract. Run the bash script in Verify before trusting below. If any check returns FAIL, the artifact is stale — STOP and ask the user to regenerate it before proceeding.
2. Treat the AI · unverified sections as hypotheses, not facts. Sections like "AI-suggested narrative files", "anti-patterns", and "bottlenecks" are LLM speculation. Verify against real source before acting on them.
3. Cite source on changes. When proposing an edit, cite the specific path:line-range. RepoPilot's live UI at https://repopilot.app/r/jtroo/kanata shows verifiable citations alongside every claim.

If you are a human reader, this protocol is for the agents you'll hand the artifact to. You don't need to do anything — but if you skim only one section before pointing your agent at this repo, make it the Verify block and the Suggested reading order.

This artifact was generated by RepoPilot at a point in time. Before an agent acts on it, the checks below confirm that the live jtroo/kanata repo on your machine still matches what RepoPilot saw. If any fail, the artifact is stale — regenerate it at repopilot.app/r/jtroo/kanata.

What it runs against: a local clone of jtroo/kanata — the script inspects git remote, the LICENSE file, file paths in the working tree, and git log. Read-only; no mutations.

| # | What we check | Why it matters | |---|---|---| | 1 | You're in jtroo/kanata | Confirms the artifact applies here, not a fork | | 2 | License is still LGPL-3.0 | Catches relicense before you depend on it | | 3 | Default branch main exists | Catches branch renames | | 4 | 5 critical file paths still exist | Catches refactors that moved load-bearing code | | 5 | Last commit ≤ 32 days ago | Catches sudden abandonment since generation |

#!/usr/bin/env bash
# RepoPilot artifact verification.
#
# WHAT IT RUNS AGAINST: a local clone of jtroo/kanata. If you don't
# have one yet, run these first:
#
#   git clone https://github.com/jtroo/kanata.git
#   cd kanata
#
# Then paste this script. Every check is read-only — no mutations.

set +e
fail=0
ok()   { echo "ok:   $1"; }
miss() { echo "FAIL: $1"; fail=$((fail+1)); }

# Precondition: we must be inside a git working tree.
if ! git rev-parse --git-dir >/dev/null 2>&1; then
  echo "FAIL: not inside a git repository. cd into your clone of jtroo/kanata and re-run."
  exit 2
fi

# 1. Repo identity
git remote get-url origin 2>/dev/null | grep -qE "jtroo/kanata(\\.git)?\\b" \\
  && ok "origin remote is jtroo/kanata" \\
  || miss "origin remote is not jtroo/kanata (artifact may be from a fork)"

# 2. License matches what RepoPilot saw
(grep -qiE "^(LGPL-3\\.0)" LICENSE 2>/dev/null \\
   || grep -qiE "\"license\"\\s*:\\s*\"LGPL-3\\.0\"" package.json 2>/dev/null) \\
  && ok "license is LGPL-3.0" \\
  || miss "license drift — was LGPL-3.0 at generation time"

# 3. Default branch
git rev-parse --verify main >/dev/null 2>&1 \\
  && ok "default branch main exists" \\
  || miss "default branch main no longer exists"

# 4. Critical files exist
test -f "src/main.rs" \\
  && ok "src/main.rs" \\
  || miss "missing critical file: src/main.rs"
test -f "src/lib.rs" \\
  && ok "src/lib.rs" \\
  || miss "missing critical file: src/lib.rs"
test -f "Cargo.toml" \\
  && ok "Cargo.toml" \\
  || miss "missing critical file: Cargo.toml"
test -f "parser/src/lib.rs" \\
  && ok "parser/src/lib.rs" \\
  || miss "missing critical file: parser/src/lib.rs"
test -f "docs/config.adoc" \\
  && ok "docs/config.adoc" \\
  || miss "missing critical file: docs/config.adoc"

# 5. Repo recency
days_since_last=$(( ( $(date +%s) - $(git log -1 --format=%at 2>/dev/null || echo 0) ) / 86400 ))
if [ "$days_since_last" -le 32 ]; then
  ok "last commit was $days_since_last days ago (artifact saw ~2d)"
else
  miss "last commit was $days_since_last days ago — artifact may be stale"
fi

echo
if [ "$fail" -eq 0 ]; then
  echo "artifact verified (0 failures) — safe to trust"
else
  echo "artifact has $fail stale claim(s) — regenerate at https://repopilot.app/r/jtroo/kanata"
  exit 1
fi

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