kkueinput

IME input helper for CLI programs that don't support input method composition display (e.g. Claude CLI, Node.js readline in raw mode).

Problem

Programs using raw terminal mode intercept individual keystrokes, preventing the IME from showing the composition process. For Korean input, you can't see the syllable being built (ㅎ → 하 → 한) — the characters appear only after composition is complete, or not at all.

Solution

A minimal GTK3 floating input window that:

1. Provides a standard text entry with full IME support
2. On Enter, injects the composed text into a tmux session via tmux send-keys
3. The target CLI program receives the text as if it were typed on the keyboard

Requirements

• Linux with X11 (Wayland not supported)
• GTK3 (libgtk-3-dev)
• tmux

Build

sudo apt install libgtk-3-dev   # one-time
make

Usage

# local tmux session
tmux new-session -d -s work 'claude'
./kkueinput --tmux=work

# remote tmux via SSH (uses ~/.ssh/config aliases)
./kkueinput --ssh=devsvr --tmux=work
./kkueinput --ssh=user@host --tmux=work

Type in the floating input window, press Enter to send. Run without arguments to see help.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Key	Action
Enter	Send text (single-line)
Ctrl+Enter	Send text (multi-line)
Ctrl+X	Close
F5	Shrink font
F6	Grow font
F11	Shrink width
F12	Grow width

Mouse

⌨ Icon (left side)

Action	Function
Left drag	Move window
Right click	Context menu

⊕/⊖ Icon (right side)

Action	Function
Left click	Toggle multi-line

How It Works

• GTK3 GtkEntry handles IME composition with full visual feedback
• tmux send-keys injects the composed text into the target tmux session
• Supports remote sessions via SSH (--ssh=HOST)

Why GTK3 instead of GTK4?

GTK4 + fcitx5-frontend-gtk4 (v5.0.12) has a known bug where space during Korean composition is inserted at the wrong position. GTK3 does not have this issue.

Limitations

• X11 only — Wayland compositors don't support the transparent/always-on-top window hints the same way.
• Requires tmux as a runtime dependency.

License

MIT