Shortkit: Efficiency Through Technology In the quiet moments of life, we are sometimes faced with challenges that not only test our resilience but also ignite a spark of ingenuity within us. The year 2020 may be recalled by many for its global upheaval, but for me, it marked a deeply personal moment. A diving accident catapulted me into a new world where physical limitations clashed with my passions. This is how technology became my ally in navigating this uncharted territory and led me to create a Mac app using ChatGPT. In the wake of my accident, my focus was to find ways to continue doing the work I love - music production. Traditionally, I would have gone straight to a piano to get started… but that wasn't an option. Instead, my focus shifted to achieving the nuanced dance of mouse clicks and keyboard commands that could give me similar results. Necessity led me to the QuadStick - a piece of technology that allowed me to operate a computer with my mouth. With customizable breath control macros at my disposal, I found a new way to interact with my digital workspace. Unfortunately, not everything could be accomplished with joystick and breath alone. When it came to typing, voice-to-text technology became my voice on the screen, translating my spoken words into written form. For tasks less suited to voice commands, an on-screen keyboard stood in for the tactile response of physical keys. These tools, diverse yet complementary, wove a tapestry of efficiency that brought me back to my music. Despite these adaptations, certain tasks, particularly those requiring the use of commands for system maintenance, proved to be a cumbersome thorn in my workflow. Typing out these commands with the on-screen keyboard in Terminal was becoming a chore that siphoned time and energy from my creative processes. It was clear I needed a more streamlined solution. There were some apps & options available that sort of did what I was looking for, but I really wanted something custom and super simple. This past year, there has been a massive buzz about the capabilities of AI and ChatGPT. It intrigued me - could AI assist me in transcending my limitations further? With no prior experience in application development and only a modest background in basic web coding, I delved into the potential of making my own app using Xcode and SwiftUI, guided by AI. After only a couple weeks working with ChatGPT, I created "Shortkit". I designed it to be an intuitive extension, allowing the execution of custom commands through a simple menu bar dropdown on Mac. It can trigger Siri Shortcuts, system commands, or even run scripts. Developing it was a journey that not only enriched my technical knowledge but also gave me a deeper understanding of how to harness AI as a collaborator. The application is available for free on my website and on GitHub. I will also be open-sourcing the code in the future. The process was not without its challenges. There were moments when ChatGPT was super frustrating, requiring me to probe repeatedly before it gave me the answers I needed. But the experience taught me the art of asking & framing my inquiries in ways that led to more precise and actionable answers. Shortkit is more than just a tool; it's an invitation to like-minded individuals - people with an interest in doing something that they don't quite know how to do. I encourage you to explore different things, and try using AI as a collaborator. It can quite literally be the perfect teacher. This has just been one part of my journey - from an accident that could have ended my musical endeavors to developing an application that streamlined my creative process. It is a narrative about the power of human adaptability and the potential of technology to empower us. I want to be a beacon of that capability. As I reflect, I am reminded that within each of us lies an indomitable spirit, waiting to turn adversities into opportunities. With Shortkit, I've not only unlocked new avenues in my own sphere but also hope to inspire others to see technology as a versatile ally in their pursuits, regardless of the hurdles that life may place in their path. I also want to shout out and thank Ryan Hanson, the creator of the Rectangle app, who helped answer a couple tricky questions for me in the final stages of development. Visit my website if you’re on a Mac and want to try Shortkit. It's free! lucasradouch.com/shortkit

Here's a quick tutorial I made about the Window Throw feature in Rectangle Pro youtu.be/Vo09H-ln7BQ