AutoHotkey (AHK) is a free and easy but highly effective Windows scripting language. It doesn’t get lots of press lately, however Windows geeks used to like writing and swapping AHK scripts.
You can be taught AHK and write the scripts your self if you wish to—the AutoHotkey documentation is pretty good—or you would use an AI device like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, and so on. to do the give you the results you want.
Well, that’s what I did. Months in the past, I vibe-coded a script that changes how scrolling works on Windows. (Vibe coding is if you use immediate directions to generate code via AI.) I nonetheless use it day by day as a result of it’s an enormous assistance on my desktop PC’s huge monitor. With AI, creating the script took lower than an hour. All I wanted was the suitable concept.
What are you able to vibe-code with AutoHotkey?
AutoHotkey scripts can create customized hotkeys, remap current shortcuts, create customized textual content enlargement guidelines, rework how your mouse works, and even take actions primarily based on recreation controller inputs.
AutoHotkey can also be highly effective sufficient to create full graphical consumer interfaces, so you should use AHK to create your personal little utilities. Imagine making a customized fast entry launcher with shortcut icons to generally used apps when you press a specific shortcut. Or your personal distinctive canned response utility the place you press a key to convey up a menu of responses that may be inserted into emails, productiveness apps, and so on. These are only a few examples which are easy and fast to create.
AutoHotkey
Vibe coding with AI is simple, too, and it looks like magic when it really works… nevertheless it doesn’t at all times work on the primary attempt. The less complicated the software program you wish to create, the better it’s for an LLM to generate it—and never solely that, however simpler so that you can troubleshoot any bugs that may come up.
Because AutoHotkey scripts are quick and easy, and since you may rapidly take a look at an AHK script to see if it’s working as meant, this is a wonderful use case for AI-driven vibe coding.
How to vibe-code an AutoHotkey script
First, you want an concept. Then, earlier than the precise coding half, it’s good to determine if AutoHotkey can truly do what you need it to do. AutoHotkey is highly effective, nevertheless it has limitations.
Simply ask your AI mannequin of alternative: “Could you write an AutoHotkey script that [does whatever it is you want to do]?” If it responds within the unfavorable, ask what comparable issues it may possibly do as an alternative. (Or merely ask on your desired AHK script anyway and see what occurs!)
Be very particular about what you need it to do. If it’s a easy request (for instance, remapping your PC’s Copilot key to some other action), then it’ll most likely succeed on the primary attempt. But when you begin moving into difficult territory (like including a Recycle Bin to the system tray), you could have to trip some time.
Also, be sure you specify that you really want an AutoHotkey v2 script. Both v1 and v2 variations are nonetheless accessible, however the older AHK v1 is deprecated. You would possibly as properly begin with the present supported model!
Chris Hoffman / Foundry
Don’t know the place to start? Try these fundamental prompts:
- “Write an AHK v2 script that makes the Caps Lock key function as a Mute key unless I hold the Ctrl key. While I hold the Ctrl key, it functions as a normal Caps Lock key.”
- “Write an AHK v2 script that pops up a custom app launcher window with buttons to open Chrome, OneNote, Spotify, Steam, and my Documents folder. Make it open when I press Ctrl + Alt + L.”
- “Write an AHK v2 script that asks me to type a time like ’30s’ or ‘5m’ and then waits that long before showing a pop-up message saying ‘Time is up.’ Make it ask for a time when I press Ctrl + Alt + T.”
Chris Hoffman / Foundry
The vibe-coding course of is generally a back-and-forth. You might wish to make refinements. You might want to take a look at the ensuing script your self and see if it really works. If it doesn’t work the best way you need it to—or for those who encounter an error message—you’ll must proceed the dialog and clarify that one thing isn’t working the best way you need it to.
The extra complicated your concept, the extra doubtless you’ll should trip. Be particular! The extra data you may share, the higher the LLM can perceive what you’re searching for. If you see an error message, copy-paste it and present the LLM. (Providing plenty of context is the overall secret to using AI chatbots effectively.)
How to run an AutoHotkey script
AutoHotkey scripts are trivial to run. To get began, download and install AutoHotkey. Don’t fear, it’s free! I extremely advocate AutoHotkey v2 as a result of AutoHotkey v1.1 is out of date.
AutoHotkey scripts are simply textual content information with an .ahk file extension. To create one, open Notepad (or every other textual content editor) and paste within the script textual content that’s generated by the LLM. Then, put it aside with the .ahk file extension (for instance, script.ahk).
Chris Hoffman / Foundry
Double-click any AHK file in File Explorer and it’ll open in AutoHotkey. Now, you may take a look at it. Does it work such as you’d count on? Do you need it to do one thing totally different? Do you see any errors? In any of these instances, inform your LLM and proceed the dialog.
To replace the script, simply change the contents of the .ahk file in the identical textual content editor, then save the file once more. You’ll must reload the script in AutoHotkey, too. (To reload AHK scripts, search for a inexperienced “H” icon in your system tray, right-click it, and choose “Reload Script.”)
Chris Hoffman / Foundry
If you’d just like the AHK script to run at startup, simply add a shortcut to it to your user account’s startup folder.
How would you modify Windows?
If you’ve at all times wished Windows to work in another way—like I did with the center mouse button scrolling script—now’s your likelihood. You can add new options, change current behaviors, and eradicate annoying system headaches, all with out being a programmer. Thanks to the facility of LLMs and vibe coding, you simply want creativeness.
Subscribe to Chris Hoffman’s publication, The Windows ReadMe, for extra Windows experiments. The AI might write the AutoHotkey scripts, however an actual human writes this article.