PinchType

A Floating Virtual Keyboard for macOS — Types Into Any Application, With a Premium Glass/HUD Interface

Features · Architecture · Tech Stack · Getting Started

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PinchType is a floating, always-on-top virtual keyboard for macOS. It types into any application via the Accessibility API (CGEvent posting) — with a premium glass/HUD interface, five keyboard layouts, autocomplete, an emoji picker, and a suite of productivity conveniences. Built natively in Swift with AppKit.

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✨ Features

⌨️ Core Typing

• Types into any app — CGEvent-based keystroke posting via Accessibility API
• 5 keyboard layouts — QWERTY, AZERTY, QWERTZ, Dvorak, Colemak
• Hold-to-repeat — backspace, space, and arrow keys
• Long-press accents — accent character popup for international typing

🧠 Intelligence

• Autocomplete suggestions — dictionary-based completions (SuggestionEngine.swift)
• Emoji picker — search, categories, and recent emojis

🎛️ macOS Polish

• Edge snapping — auto-snaps to screen edges within 20pt
• Resizable — drag the bottom-right handle
• Dark & Light mode — adaptive theming
• Opacity & scale controls — tune the keyboard to your workspace
• Position persistence — window position restored across restarts
• Menu bar icon — quick access and toggling
• Key click sounds — configurable volume

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🏗️ System Architecture

flowchart LR
    A[Key Press] --> B[KeyboardEngine]
    B --> C{Which key?}
    C -->|Character| D[KeyCodeMap]
    D --> E[CGEvent Post]
    C -->|Layout switch| F[LayoutManager]
    C -->|Accent| G[Long-Press Popup]
    B --> H[SuggestionEngine]
    H --> I[Autocomplete Bar]
    B --> J[Emoji Picker]
    E --> K[Any macOS App]

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PinchType/
├── PinchType/               # Main app target
│   ├── KeyboardEngine.swift # Keystroke orchestration
│   ├── KeyboardKey.swift    # Key model & behaviors
│   ├── KeyCodeMap.swift     # Layout → keycode mapping
│   ├── LayoutManager.swift  # 5 layout management
│   └── SuggestionEngine.swift # Autocomplete engine
├── PinchType.xcodeproj      # Xcode 26 project
└── PinchTypeTests/          # XCTest unit tests

Deep-dive design notes live in ARCHITECTURE.md.

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🧰 Tech Stack

Layer	Technology
Language	Swift
UI Framework	AppKit (native)
Typing	Accessibility API (CGEvent posting)
Project	Xcode 26 · macOS 26.5+
Testing	XCTest (PinchTypeTests)

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🚀 Getting Started

Requirements

• macOS 26.5 or later
• Xcode 26+
• Accessibility permission — required for typing into other apps

Build

# 1. Clone
git clone https://github.com/Manthan-13521/PinchType-Virtual-Keyboard.git
cd PinchType-Virtual-Keyboard/PinchType

# 2. Open in Xcode
open PinchType.xcodeproj

# 3. Select the PinchType scheme, then Build & Run

First Launch

1. Grant Accessibility permission in System Settings → Privacy & Security
2. The floating keyboard appears — click any key to type into the active app
3. Snap it to an edge, resize it, or switch layouts from the menu bar icon

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🔭 Roadmap

• Gesture / trackpad-drawing input mode
• Custom layout editor
• Cloud syncing of settings (iCloud)
• Siri Shortcuts integration
• iPad support

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🤝 Contributing

Contributions welcome — especially new layouts, dictionary sources, and accessibility improvements.

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📄 License

Proprietary. All rights reserved.

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© 2026 Manthan Jaiswal — Built with Swift & AppKit.