Quick Start
1. Build
git clone https://github.com/smllb/qhints-rs
cd qhints-rs
cargo build --release
2. Run
./target/release/qhints-rs
A transparent overlay appears over the active window. Every detected UI element has a small yellow pill-shaped label on it, like QA, QS, QD.
3. Click something
Type the letters you see on the label. For example, if a terminal window shows QS on the close button, press Q then S. The cursor moves to that button and clicks.
- The first letter of each label is red, the rest is dark gray.
- As you type, matched letters turn green.
- If no hint matches what you typed, the input resets automatically.
- Press Escape to dismiss the overlay at any time.
4. Hover instead of click
Hold Ctrl while typing the last character — the cursor moves there but doesn’t click. Useful for tooltips and previews.
5. Try the other modes
If the overlay is up, press these keys to switch modes:
| Key | Mode | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| (just type) | Normal | Click at element center |
| Ctrl + last key | Hover | Move mouse, no click |
| Alt | Double-click | Type one hint → double-click |
| / | Text select | Pick two elements → select between them |
| Shift | Drag | Pick source → pick destination → drag |
What to try it on
- A file manager — close a window, hover a tooltip
- A text editor — select a word using
/mode - A browser — click buttons, drag a tab
Verbose output
./target/release/qhints-rs -v # debug logs
./target/release/qhints-rs -vv # trace logs (very noisy)