altcode: A character selector for Linux

Emojis and special character selection via fzf and rofi, a modern alt-code alternative 😀

Forked from fdw/rofimoji to provide a more linux/shell focused and extensible version of rofimoji that is simplified and context aware.

Features

• Context Aware - Uses fzf and stdout in CLI enviornments, rofi and xdotool in GUIs.
• Extensible - Special Characters are read from collections in ./altcode.d directory. Extend the packaged lists or add your own.
• Simple - Minimal common dependencies, just a bash script.
• Self Update - Need new emojis? Install the dev python3 dependencies and run the update_emojis.py to get the latest list from the official emoji list
• Built in Emojis, Ascii Faces, and Special Characters - 😸 (☞ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)☞ °F ≤

Dependencies

• rofi - GUI selection
• fzf - CLI/Terminal selection
• xclip for clipboard and copypaste
• xdotool for auto insertion and copypaste
• Python3 & Pipenv (optional) - For updating emoji list.

Usage

Ubuntu/Gnome

1. Download/clone this repo
2. Open Settings -> Devices -> Keyboard Shortcuts
3. Scroll all the way to the bottom an click the +
4. Fill in the name (Altcode) and add the path to the script as the command ([Download Dir]/altcode) and set a nice shortcut like Super + E
5. Click the X to save and close the window
6. Try it!

CLI/General Usage

altcode -o|--output [xdotool|clipboard|stdout|-] -s|--selector [fzf|rofi] -t|--skin-tone [neutral|light|medium-light|moderate|dark-brown|black]

By default, will prompt a user to select an special character to copy to the clipboard using fzf if in a terminal, or rofi in a gui.

where:
    Options:
        -o|--output (optional) - Instead of outputting to stdout, output to one of: xdotool (auto type), clipboard, or stdout, -
        -s|--selector (optional) - Uses fzf for CLI environments or rofi for GUIs. Override by specifying one of: fzf, rofi
        -t|--skin-tone (optional) A skin to to apply to select emojis: neutral, light, medium-light, moderate, dark-brown, black

Examples:

1. From a terminal: ./altcode | sed -e 's/^/I feel:/'
2. Prompt from rofi: ./altcode -s rofi
3. Updating emoji list: mkdir -p .venv && pipenv install --dev && ./update_emojis.py && rm -rf .venv

Todo

1. Create a better list of emoji modifiers and apply skin tones to more complex emojis, like gender occupations.
2. xdotool only works in some places?