Add modifier-key input scheme (whisper-key style)

New inputmode.py: Ctrl+Win start, Ctrl stop+paste, Alt stop+paste+Enter, Esc
cancel; toggle and push-to-talk variants. Low-level pynput Listener with arming
so stop/send/cancel only fire while recording and only after the start chord is
released — a stray Ctrl tap while idle does nothing (unit-tested).

Daemon split into start/finish/cancel_dictation (+ send_enter -> press Enter),
with start_input/stop_input dispatching between "modifiers" and "hotkeys" modes.
New [input] config section; paste.press_enter for auto-send. Default mode is
"modifiers"; voice-keyword routing still applies to what you say.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

linux/blitztext/config.py

@@ -38,6 +38,13 @@ class Config:
     type_delay_ms: int = 12
     notify: bool = True
     language: str = "de"          # whisper hint; "" = autodetect
+    # input scheme
+    input_mode: str = "modifiers"   # "modifiers" (Ctrl+Win/Ctrl/Alt/Esc) | "hotkeys" (combos)
+    push_to_talk: bool = False
+    key_start: str = "<ctrl>+<cmd>"   # start recording (Ctrl+Win)
+    key_stop: str = "<ctrl>"          # stop -> paste
+    key_send: str = "<alt>"           # stop -> paste -> Enter
+    key_cancel: str = "<esc>"         # discard
     # whisper
     model: str = "small"
     device: str = "auto"          # auto | cuda | cpu
@@ -112,6 +119,7 @@ def load(path: Path = CONFIG_PATH) -> Config:
     w = data.get("whisper", {})
     r = data.get("rewrite", {})
     rt = data.get("routing", {})
+    inp = data.get("input", {})
 
     cfg = Config(
         recorder=g.get("recorder", "auto"),
@@ -132,6 +140,12 @@ def load(path: Path = CONFIG_PATH) -> Config:
         routing_hotkey=rt.get("hotkey", "<ctrl>+<alt>+<space>"),
         routing_default=rt.get("default", ""),
         routing_threshold=float(rt.get("threshold", 0.82)),
+        input_mode=inp.get("mode", "modifiers"),
+        push_to_talk=bool(inp.get("push_to_talk", False)),
+        key_start=inp.get("start", "<ctrl>+<cmd>"),
+        key_stop=inp.get("stop", "<ctrl>"),
+        key_send=inp.get("send", "<alt>"),
+        key_cancel=inp.get("cancel", "<esc>"),
     )
 
     for entry in data.get("workflow", []):
@@ -209,6 +223,14 @@ def save(cfg: Config, path: Path = CONFIG_PATH) -> None:
             "temperature": cfg.temperature,
             "timeout": cfg.timeout,
         },
+        "input": {
+            "mode": cfg.input_mode,
+            "push_to_talk": cfg.push_to_talk,
+            "start": cfg.key_start,
+            "stop": cfg.key_stop,
+            "send": cfg.key_send,
+            "cancel": cfg.key_cancel,
+        },
         "routing": {
             "enabled": cfg.routing_enabled,
             "hotkey": cfg.routing_hotkey,
@@ -272,6 +294,18 @@ type_delay_ms = 12       # per-keystroke delay for xdotool type (raise if chars
 notify = true            # desktop notifications for each phase
 language = "de"          # Whisper language hint; "" = autodetect
 
+[input]
+# How you start/stop dictation.
+#   mode = "modifiers"  ->  Ctrl+Win start | Ctrl stop+paste | Alt stop+paste+Enter | Esc cancel
+#   mode = "hotkeys"    ->  the per-preset combos + the [routing] hotkey below
+# Voice-keyword routing still applies to what you say in either mode.
+mode = "modifiers"
+push_to_talk = false     # modifiers mode: hold Start to record, release to stop+paste
+start = "<ctrl>+<cmd>"   # <cmd> = the Super/Windows key
+stop = "<ctrl>"
+send = "<alt>"
+cancel = "<esc>"
+
 [whisper]
 model = "small"          # tiny | base | small | medium | large-v3, or a local path
 device = "auto"          # auto | cuda | cpu  (auto tries cuda, falls back to cpu)

linux/blitztext/daemon.py

@@ -81,35 +81,57 @@ class Daemon:
     def is_recording(self) -> bool:
         return self._recording is not None
 
-    # -- hotkey / button handler ----------------------------------------------
+    # -- recording control ----------------------------------------------------
-    def toggle(self, workflow: Workflow) -> None:
+    def start_dictation(self, workflow: Workflow | None = None) -> None:
-        """Called on each trigger: start recording, or stop + process."""
+        wf = workflow or self._route_workflow
         with self._lock:
+            if not self.ready or self._busy or self._recording is not None:
+                return
+            self._target_window = active_window_id()
+            self._recording = Recording(self.recorder_name)
+            self._active_workflow = wf
+        self._emit("recording", wf.name, "Recording…")
+        self._notify(f"● {wf.name}", "Recording…")
+
+    def finish_dictation(self, send_enter: bool = False) -> None:
+        with self._lock:
+            if self._recording is None:
+                return
+            rec, wf, win = self._recording, self._active_workflow, self._target_window
+            self._recording = None
+            self._active_workflow = None
+            self._busy = True
+        audio_path = rec.stop()
+        threading.Thread(
+            target=self._process, args=(audio_path, wf, win, send_enter), daemon=True
+        ).start()
+
+    def cancel_dictation(self) -> None:
+        with self._lock:
+            if self._recording is None:
+                return
+            rec = self._recording
+            self._recording = None
+            self._active_workflow = None
+        rec.discard()
+        self._emit("idle", None, "Cancelled")
+        self._notify("Cancelled", "Recording discarded.", "low")
+
+    def toggle(self, workflow: Workflow) -> None:
+        """Start recording, or stop + process (used by GUI clicks and combos)."""
         if not self.ready:
             self._notify("Please wait", "Model still loading…", "low")
             return
         if self._busy:
             self._notify("Busy", "Still processing the last clip…", "low")
             return
-
         if self._recording is None:
-                self._target_window = active_window_id()
+            self.start_dictation(workflow)
-                self._recording = Recording(self.recorder_name)
+        else:
-                self._active_workflow = workflow
+            self.finish_dictation(send_enter=False)
-                self._emit("recording", workflow.name, "Recording…")
-                self._notify(f"● {workflow.name}", "Recording… trigger again to stop.")
-                return
-
-            rec, wf, win = self._recording, self._active_workflow, self._target_window
-            self._recording = None
-            self._active_workflow = None
-            self._busy = True
-
-        audio_path = rec.stop()
-        threading.Thread(target=self._process, args=(audio_path, wf, win), daemon=True).start()
 
     # -- worker ---------------------------------------------------------------
-    def _process(self, audio_path, workflow: Workflow, window_id) -> None:
+    def _process(self, audio_path, workflow: Workflow, window_id, send_enter: bool = False) -> None:
         label = workflow.name
         try:
             self._emit("busy", label, "Transcribing…")
@@ -172,6 +194,9 @@ class Daemon:
                 window_id=window_id,
                 type_delay_ms=self.cfg.type_delay_ms,
             )
+            if send_enter:
+                from .paste import press_enter
+                press_enter(window_id)
             self._emit("done", label, text)
             self._notify(f"✓ {label}", text[:80] + ("…" if len(text) > 80 else ""))
         except Exception as exc:  # noqa: BLE001 - surface any failure
@@ -203,6 +228,29 @@ class Daemon:
         self._listener.start()
         return self._listener
 
+    def start_input(self):
+        """Start the configured input handler; returns its listener (joinable)."""
+        if self.cfg.input_mode == "modifiers":
+            from .inputmode import ModifierScheme
+
+            self._scheme = ModifierScheme(
+                self,
+                start=self.cfg.key_start,
+                stop=self.cfg.key_stop,
+                send=self.cfg.key_send,
+                cancel=self.cfg.key_cancel,
+                push_to_talk=self.cfg.push_to_talk,
+            )
+            return self._scheme.start_listener()
+        return self.start_hotkeys()
+
+    def stop_input(self) -> None:
+        scheme = getattr(self, "_scheme", None)
+        if scheme is not None:
+            scheme.stop_listener()
+            self._scheme = None
+        self.stop_hotkeys()
+
     def stop_hotkeys(self) -> None:
         if self._listener is not None:
             self._listener.stop()
@@ -211,12 +259,17 @@ class Daemon:
     # -- headless run loop ----------------------------------------------------
     def run(self) -> None:
         self.prepare()
-        lines = [f"  {self.cfg.routing_hotkey}  →  Voice routing (speak a keyword)"] if self.cfg.routing_enabled else []
+        if self.cfg.input_mode == "modifiers":
+            scheme = "Ctrl+Win start · Ctrl stop+paste · Alt stop+paste+Enter · Esc cancel"
+            print(f"[blitztext] ready. Recorder: {self.recorder_name}. Input: {scheme}", file=sys.stderr)
+        else:
+            lines = [f"  {self.cfg.routing_hotkey}  →  Voice routing"] if self.cfg.routing_enabled else []
             lines += [f"  {wf.hotkey}  →  {wf.name}" for wf in self.cfg.workflows if wf.hotkey]
             print(f"[blitztext] ready. Recorder: {self.recorder_name}. Hotkeys:\n" + "\n".join(lines), file=sys.stderr)
-        self._notify("Blitztext ready", "Focus a text field and press a hotkey.")
+        self._notify("Blitztext ready", "Focus a text field and start dictating.")
 
-        from pynput import keyboard
+        listener = self.start_input()
-
+        try:
-        with keyboard.GlobalHotKeys(self._build_mapping()) as listener:
             listener.join()
+        finally:
+            self.stop_input()

linux/blitztext/gtkui.py

@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ class App:
     def _startup(self) -> None:
         try:
             self.daemon.prepare()
-            self.daemon.start_hotkeys()
+            self.daemon.start_input()
         except Exception as exc:  # noqa: BLE001
             GLib.idle_add(self._apply_status, "error", None, f"Startup failed: {exc}")
 
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ class App:
 
     def quit_all(self) -> None:
         try:
-            self.daemon.stop_hotkeys()
+            self.daemon.stop_input()
         finally:
             Gtk.main_quit()
 

linux/blitztext/inputmode.py

@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+"""Modifier-key input scheme (whisper-key style), as an alternative to combos.
+
+Default interaction:
+  Ctrl+Win  start recording
+  Ctrl      stop -> transcribe -> paste
+  Alt       stop -> transcribe -> paste -> Enter (auto-send)
+  Esc       cancel (discard, no transcription)
+
+Bare modifier taps are risky (a stray Ctrl+C could misfire), so stop/send/cancel
+are only armed *while recording* and only after the start modifiers are released.
+A push-to-talk variant records while the start chord is held and stops on release.
+
+Uses a low-level pynput Listener (press/release), not GlobalHotKeys.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+
+def _token(key) -> str | None:
+    """Canonical token for a pynput key: ctrl/alt/cmd/shift/esc or a char."""
+    from pynput import keyboard
+
+    if isinstance(key, keyboard.Key):
+        name = key.name
+        for mod in ("ctrl", "alt", "cmd", "shift"):
+            if name.startswith(mod):
+                return mod
+        return name  # 'esc', 'space', 'enter', ...
+    if isinstance(key, keyboard.KeyCode) and key.char:
+        return key.char.lower()
+    return None
+
+
+def parse_tokens(spec: str) -> frozenset[str]:
+    """'<ctrl>+<cmd>' -> {'ctrl','cmd'};  '<ctrl>' -> {'ctrl'}."""
+    return frozenset(p.strip().strip("<>").lower() for p in spec.split("+") if p.strip())
+
+
+class ModifierScheme:
+    def __init__(self, daemon, *, start: str, stop: str, send: str, cancel: str, push_to_talk: bool = False):
+        self.daemon = daemon
+        self.start = parse_tokens(start)
+        self.stop = parse_tokens(stop)
+        self.send = parse_tokens(send)
+        self.cancel = parse_tokens(cancel)
+        self.ptt = push_to_talk
+        self._pressed: set[str] = set()
+        self._state = "idle"          # idle | arming | armed
+        self._listener = None
+
+    # -- listener lifecycle ---------------------------------------------------
+    def start_listener(self):
+        from pynput import keyboard
+
+        self._listener = keyboard.Listener(on_press=self._on_press, on_release=self._on_release)
+        self._listener.start()
+        return self._listener
+
+    def stop_listener(self) -> None:
+        if self._listener is not None:
+            self._listener.stop()
+            self._listener = None
+
+    # -- event handling -------------------------------------------------------
+    def _is(self, token: str, combo: frozenset[str]) -> bool:
+        # A single-token trigger fires on that token; a chord needs all tokens held.
+        if len(combo) == 1:
+            return token in combo
+        return combo.issubset(self._pressed)
+
+    def _on_press(self, key) -> None:
+        token = _token(key)
+        if token is None:
+            return
+        self._pressed.add(token)
+
+        if self._state == "idle":
+            if self.start.issubset(self._pressed):
+                self._state = "arming"
+                self.daemon.start_dictation()
+            return
+
+        # Cancel works while arming or armed.
+        if self._is(token, self.cancel):
+            self._state = "idle"
+            self.daemon.cancel_dictation()
+            return
+
+        if self._state == "armed":
+            if self._is(token, self.send):
+                self._state = "idle"
+                self.daemon.finish_dictation(send_enter=True)
+            elif self._is(token, self.stop):
+                self._state = "idle"
+                self.daemon.finish_dictation(send_enter=False)
+
+    def _on_release(self, key) -> None:
+        token = _token(key)
+        if token is not None:
+            self._pressed.discard(token)
+
+        if self._state != "arming":
+            return
+        if self.ptt:
+            # Push-to-talk: releasing the start chord stops and pastes.
+            if not self.start.issubset(self._pressed):
+                self._state = "idle"
+                self.daemon.finish_dictation(send_enter=False)
+        else:
+            # Toggle: arm stop/send once the start modifiers are all released.
+            if not (self._pressed & self.start):
+                self._state = "armed"

linux/blitztext/paste.py

@@ -54,6 +54,15 @@ def deliver(text: str, *, mode: str = "type", window_id: str | None = None, type
     )
 
 
+def press_enter(window_id: str | None = None) -> None:
+    """Send Return to the focused/target window (auto-send after paste)."""
+    if not shutil.which("xdotool"):
+        return
+    _focus(window_id)
+    time.sleep(0.08)
+    subprocess.run(["xdotool", "key", "--clearmodifiers", "Return"], check=False)
+
+
 def _set_clipboard(text: str) -> bool:
     """Best-effort clipboard set; returns False if no clipboard tool is available."""
     for argv in (["xclip", "-selection", "clipboard"], ["xsel", "--clipboard", "--input"], ["wl-copy"]):