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Asked: 2024-09-25T04:50:53+05:30 In:

How can I display which keyboard keys are being pressed on my Ubuntu system in real-time?

I’ve been messing around with my Ubuntu setup, and I really want to figure out a way to see which keyboard keys are being pressed in real-time. It sounds like it could be super handy, whether it’s for debugging or just to show off some cool features to friends.

I’ve done a bit of digging but haven’t found anything that really clicks. I know there are keyloggers out there, but I’m not looking to get involved in any sketchy software. I want to keep it safe and ethical, you know? Plus, I’m not exactly a coding wizard, so I’m hoping there’s something out there that doesn’t require me to dive into complex programming or terminal commands I barely understand.

I’ve seen a few tools and screenshots online where users have this overlay that shows which keys they’re pressing, and I think that’s exactly what I want. It would be amazing for when I’m trying to teach my friend how to use certain shortcuts or even record some gameplay where I can show the controls I’m using in real-time.

I’ve tried a few keyboard monitoring applications, but they all seem to focus on logging key presses instead of displaying them live, which is not really what I’m after. I feel like there must be something built into Ubuntu or a simple app that does this without all the fuss.

If anyone has any tips or can point me in the direction of a good tutorial, that would be awesome! Also, if you’ve used any specific applications for this purpose, I’d love to hear about your experiences. Were they easy to set up and use? Did they have any issues with lag or performance?

I’m just really eager to find a straightforward solution to visualize my keystrokes in real time, so any help from the community would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance for any insights or ideas you might have!

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    2 Answers






    1. Real-Time Keyboard Visualizer on Ubuntu


      How to See Real-Time Key Presses on Ubuntu

      So, if you’re looking to see which keys you’re pressing in real-time, you’re in luck! There are a few straightforward ways to do this without getting into sketchy software or complex coding.

      Tip: One of the easiest ways is to use a tool called xev. It’s pretty handy and comes pre-installed with most Ubuntu setups.

      Here’s how to use it:

      1. Open your terminal (you can do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T).
      2. Type xev and press Enter.
      3. A small window should pop up. When you press keys while that window is focused, it will show you the key events in the terminal, including the keys pressed.

      If you want something a bit more visual, there’s also screenkey. This is great for displaying your key presses on the screen. It’s pretty easy to set up too:

      1. Install it by entering sudo apt install screenkey in your terminal.
      2. Once installed, simply type screenkey to start it.
      3. You can customize the settings in the GUI to change the font size or position on the screen as per your liking.
      Note: Make sure to close xev before running screenkey to avoid overlapping issues.

      These tools should help you show off some cool key presses, whether you’re teaching shortcuts or recording some gameplay. Plus, they don’t require any deep technical knowledge—just basic terminal commands!

      If you’ve tried them out, or if you have other tools that worked well for you, it would be cool to hear your experiences. Happy keystroking!



    2. For real-time visualization of keyboard keys pressed on your Ubuntu setup, you can try using tools like key-mon or screenkey. Key-mon displays key presses as an overlay on your screen, which is especially useful for demonstrating shortcuts or during gameplay. To install key-mon, you can simply open your terminal and run the command sudo apt install key-mon. After installation, you can launch it by typing key-mon in the terminal, and it will appear on your screen showing live key presses. Alternatively, Screenkey is another good option, which you can install using sudo apt install screenkey. Once installed, just launch it, and it will start displaying the keys you press.

      Both tools are user-friendly and do not require complex programming knowledge. They are designed to help users visualize keystrokes without any sketchy software involved, maintaining a safe and ethical use. While using these applications, you should experience minimal lag, making them convenient for recording tutorials or gameplay sessions. If you encounter any issues or need customization options, both projects have communities that can provide assistance. Check their respective documentation for guidance on advanced features as well.


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