Kayston’s Forge is designed for keyboard-driven workflows. All major actions have keyboard shortcuts for maximum productivity.
Global Shortcuts
These shortcuts work from any page in the app.
| Shortcut | Action | Context |
|---|
Cmd/Ctrl+K | Open Command Palette | Search and navigate to any tool |
Cmd/Ctrl+1 | Toggle Sidebar | Show/hide the tool navigation sidebar |
Cmd/Ctrl+[ | Previous Tool | Navigate to the previous tool in the registry |
Cmd/Ctrl+] | Next Tool | Navigate to the next tool in the registry |
Cmd refers to the Command key on macOS. On Windows and Linux, use Ctrl instead.
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|
Cmd/Ctrl+Enter | Execute Tool | Run the current tool with the active action (Beautify, Encode, etc.) |
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+C | Copy Output | Copy the output text to your clipboard |
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+S | Download Output | Download output as a text file |
Esc | Clear Input | Clear the input field (when not in Command Palette) |
Cmd/Ctrl+Enter is the fastest way to process your input. You don’t need to click the action button.
Command Palette Shortcuts
These shortcuts work when the Command Palette is open.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|
↓ or ↑ | Navigate results |
Enter | Open selected tool |
Esc | Close palette |
QR Code Reader/Generator
- Upload mode: Press
Esc to cancel file selection
- Camera mode: Press
Esc to stop camera access
Text Diff Checker
- Uses split-pane input with synchronized scrolling
Cmd/Ctrl+Enter runs the diff comparison
RegExp Tester
- Action buttons switch between flag combinations (
gm, gim, g)
Cmd/Ctrl+Enter re-runs the regex test
Many tools have multiple action buttons (e.g., Beautify vs. Minify for code formatters). While there are no dedicated keyboard shortcuts for switching between actions, you can:
- Use the mouse to select the desired action
- Press
Cmd/Ctrl+Enter to execute
Alternatively, the active action is remembered per tool, so your last-used action will be the default when you press Cmd/Ctrl+Enter.
Clipboard Operations
The app integrates with the system clipboard:
- Copy output:
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+C or click the Copy button
- Paste input: Standard
Cmd/Ctrl+V works in all text areas
- Visual feedback: Success checkmark appears after copying
Navigation Workflow Examples
# You're on JSON Format/Validate and want to convert to YAML
1. Press Cmd/Ctrl+K
2. Type "json to yaml"
3. Press Enter
# Browse tools in order
Cmd/Ctrl+] → Next tool
Cmd/Ctrl+[ → Previous tool
Quick Workflow for Processing Data
1. Cmd/Ctrl+V — Paste input
2. Cmd/Ctrl+Enter — Process
3. Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+C — Copy output
4. Cmd/Ctrl+K — Open palette to switch tools
Browser-Specific Notes
Some browser shortcuts may conflict with app shortcuts:
- Firefox:
Cmd/Ctrl+K focuses the search bar by default — you may need to use the search icon to open the Command Palette
- Chrome:
Cmd+[ and Cmd+] navigate browser history — consider using the sidebar or Command Palette instead
Accessibility
All keyboard shortcuts are designed with accessibility in mind:
- Focus management: Opening the Command Palette automatically focuses the search input
- Keyboard-only navigation: All features are accessible without a mouse
- Visual feedback: Selected items are highlighted, and actions show confirmation states
- Screen reader support: ARIA labels and roles are provided for interactive elements
Customization
Keyboard shortcuts are currently not customizable. The shortcuts follow common conventions:
Cmd/Ctrl+K — Industry standard for command palettes (VS Code, GitHub, Notion)Cmd/Ctrl+Enter — Common for executing actions (Slack, Discord, many IDEs)Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+C/S — Standard for clipboard and save operations
If you have feedback on shortcuts, please open an issue on the GitHub repository.
Quick Reference Card
GLOBAL
Cmd/Ctrl+K Command Palette
Cmd/Ctrl+1 Toggle Sidebar
Cmd/Ctrl+[/] Previous/Next Tool
WORKBENCH
Cmd/Ctrl+Enter Execute Tool
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+C Copy Output
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+S Download Output
Esc Clear Input
PALETTE
↓/↑ Navigate
Enter Select
Esc Close
