I used AI to repair my largest Home windows 11 annoyances in minutes

What are you able to vibe-code with AutoHotkey?

AutoHotkey scripts can create customized hotkeys, remap present shortcuts, create customized textual content growth guidelines, rework how your mouse works, and even take actions based mostly on sport controller inputs.

AutoHotkey can be highly effective sufficient to create full graphical person interfaces, so you should utilize AHK to create your personal little utilities. Think about making a customized fast entry launcher with shortcut icons to generally used apps if you press a selected shortcut. Or your personal distinctive canned response utility the place you press a key to carry up a menu of responses that may be inserted into emails, productiveness apps, and so on. These are only a few examples which might be easy and fast to create.

Vibe coding with AI is straightforward, too, and it looks like magic when it really works… but it surely doesn’t all the time work on the primary attempt. The less complicated the software program you need to create, the simpler it’s for an LLM to generate it—and never solely that, however simpler so that you can troubleshoot any bugs which may come up.

As a result of AutoHotkey scripts are brief and easy, and since you’ll be able to shortly check an AHK script to see if it’s working as meant, this is a superb use case for AI-driven vibe coding.

Find out how to vibe-code an AutoHotkey script

First, you want an thought. Then, earlier than the precise coding half, that you must work out if AutoHotkey can really do what you need it to do. AutoHotkey is highly effective, but it surely has limitations.

Merely ask your AI mannequin of selection: “Might you write an AutoHotkey script that [does whatever it is you want to do]?” If it responds within the damaging, ask what related issues it may possibly do as a substitute. (Or just ask to 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 another motion), then it’ll most likely succeed on the primary attempt. However when you begin entering into difficult territory (like including a Recycle Bin to the system tray), you might have to travel some time.

Additionally, make sure you specify that you really want an AutoHotkey v2 script. Each v1 and v2 variations are nonetheless obtainable, however the older AHK v1 is deprecated. You may as effectively begin with the present supported model!

Chris Hoffman / Foundry

Don’t know the place to start? Strive these fundamental prompts:

• “Write an AHK v2 script that makes the Caps Lock key perform as a Mute key except I maintain the Ctrl key. Whereas I maintain the Ctrl key, it features as a traditional Caps Lock key.”
• “Write an AHK v2 script that pops up a customized app launcher window with buttons to open Chrome, OneNote, Spotify, Steam, and my Paperwork folder. Make it open once I press Ctrl + Alt + L.”
• “Write an AHK v2 script that asks me to sort a time like ’30s’ or ‘5m’ after which waits that lengthy earlier than displaying a pop-up message saying ‘Time is up.’ Make it ask for a time once I press Ctrl + Alt + T.”

Chris Hoffman / Foundry

The vibe-coding course of is often a back-and-forth. You could need to make refinements. You will want to check the ensuing script your self and see if it really works. If it doesn’t work the way in which you need it to—or in case you encounter an error message—you’ll have to proceed the dialog and clarify that one thing isn’t working the way in which you need it to.

The extra advanced your thought, the extra doubtless you’ll must travel. Be particular! The extra data you’ll be able to share, the higher the LLM can perceive what you’re in search of. In the event you see an error message, copy-paste it and present the LLM. (Offering plenty of context is the general secret to utilizing AI chatbots successfully.)

Find out how to run an AutoHotkey script

AutoHotkey scripts are trivial to run. To get began, obtain and set up AutoHotkey. Don’t fear, it’s free! I extremely suggest 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’ll be able to check it. Does it work such as you’d count on? Would you like it to do one thing completely different? Do you see any errors? In any of these circumstances, 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 have to 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

In the event you’d just like the AHK script to run at startup, simply add a shortcut to it to your person account’s startup folder.

How would you alter Home windows?

In the event you’ve all the time wished Home windows to work in another way—like I did with the center mouse button scrolling script—now’s your probability. You may add new options, change present behaviors, and eradicate annoying system complications, all with out being a programmer. Because of the ability of LLMs and vibe coding, you simply want creativeness.