Kursor

VS Code extension for tracking keyboard language

Also available for IntelliJ IDEA: GitHub | JetBrains Marketplace

What is Kursor?

Avoid typos and coding errors caused by language switching.

Kursor simplifies language tracking directly in your VS Code editor.

It dynamically displays the current keyboard language near your cursor, offering the added functionality of changing the cursor's color to match the language in use.

This feature is particularly beneficial for developers juggling multiple languages, significantly reducing the likelihood of typing errors.

Features

• Cursor Color Change: Automatically changes the cursor color based on the current language.
• Language Indicator: Displays the current language near the cursor.
• Caps Lock Indicator: Shows the Caps Lock status on the cursor (limited platform support).
• Customization: Customize the language indicator's colors and background.
• Supported Operating Systems: Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Supported Languages And Input Methods: Supports a wide range of languages and input methods, including Apple's built-in Chinese input methods (Pinyin, Wubi, Zhuyin, Cangjie), Sogou Pinyin, and Squirrel on macOS.

Usage

Once installed, Kursor automatically activates when VS Code starts. Switch your keyboard layout and a language indicator will appear near the cursor within 500ms.

Use the command Kursor: Detect Current Keyboard Layout (from the Command Palette) to see the current layout and optionally set it as the default.

Customization

You can customize Kursor's settings to suit your preferences:

1. Go to File > Preferences > Settings.
2. Search for Kursor.
3. Adjust the settings to your liking.

Settings

Setting	Default	Description
kursor.defaultLanguage	"us"	Default keyboard language. Indicator is hidden for this language.
kursor.indicateCapsLock	true	Show Caps Lock status (limited platform support).
kursor.indicateDefaultLanguage	false	Show indicator even for the default language.
kursor.cursor.color	"#FF8C00"	Cursor color for non-default languages. Leave empty to disable.
kursor.showTextIndicator	true	Show text indicator near the cursor.
kursor.textIndicator.color	"#FF8C00"	Text color of the language indicator.
kursor.textIndicator.backgroundColor	""	Background color of the text indicator. Leave empty for no background.
kursor.pollingInterval	500	Keyboard layout polling interval in milliseconds (100-5000).

Platform Notes

macOS

Uses defaults read to detect the current input source. Supports standard keyboard layouts and input methods (Apple's built-in Chinese IME, Sogou Pinyin, Rime Squirrel).

Windows

Uses PowerShell with System.Windows.Forms.InputLanguage API. First detection may be slightly slower due to PowerShell startup.

Linux

• GNOME desktops (Ubuntu, Fedora, Pop!_OS, etc.): Uses gsettings to read the most recently used input source. Works on both X11 and Wayland.
• Other X11 desktops: Falls back to setxkbmap and xset to determine the active layout.
• Non-GNOME Wayland: Not yet supported.

Feedback and Suggestions

I value your feedback and suggestions to improve Kursor. If you have any ideas, issues, or feature requests, please share them with me on GitHub. Your input helps me make Kursor better for everyone.

To post your feedback or suggestions, visit our GitHub Issues page:

https://github.com/siropkin/kursor-vscode/issues

Thank you for supporting Kursor and helping me enhance your coding experience.

License

Kursor is open-source and available under the Apache 2.0 license.

Support

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