FAQ

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Can I control my computer from a text field?

Yes. With OpenCues, a keyword next to a _ reads live state into your text, and for writable controls the arrow keys change the real thing: volume _ becomes volume 70%, and cycling it actually changes your system volume.

Shipped system and data blanks

  • volume _ and brightness _: read, set, and step, via small local scripts.
  • weather london _: current conditions for any city.
  • nvda _, tesla stock _: live prices for popular tickers via Finnhub (free API key required); crypto prices work the same way, no key needed.
  • dictionary, countries, hackernews, gh-issues, claude-status: read-only lookups.

How it works

Writable blanks understand three commands, all typed in place:

  • Get: volume _ fills in the live value.
  • Set: type the value you want and the blank applies it: volume 70 _ sets your system volume to 70 and confirms the new state in place - the volume keyword stays in your text.
  • Step: once filled, Ctrl+Alt+↑/↓ nudges the real value up and down.

Each blank is a folder with a BLANK.md file that declares its trigger keywords and binds either a sibling script, a runtime class, or a static value list. A blank fires when its keyword leads the sentence your _ ends, so ordinary prose that mentions the word does not trigger it. Read-only blanks (like stock prices) display but do not cycle.

Write your own in minutes

The shipped example blank is a hello-world: time _ calling a five-line shell script. Copy the folder, change the keywords and the script, and your own system control hot-reloads into every host. Scripts you author run under an opt-in OS sandbox, and third-party JavaScript blanks run capability-restricted; see the security model.

Related: What is a blank? · The weather blank · Change settings from your text field · The brightness blank · The volume blank · GitHub repo