How to Start with Devdesk
Devdesk is a universal AI keyboard layer for Cursor, Claude Code, and Codex — inspired by Codex Micro, without the hardware. This guide gets you from download to first Accept / Reject / Send in a few minutes.
1. Download and install
- Open devdesk.weaveit.app and download the Windows installer.
- Run the setup and launch Devdesk.
- A home window opens on first launch. Closing it keeps Devdesk running in the system tray.
macOS via Homebrew is coming soon on the download dialog.
2. Pick your AI tool preset
From the home window, settings, or tray menu, select a preset:
- Cursor
- Claude Code
- Codex
Presets define the chords Devdesk injects for Accept, Reject, Send, New agent, and Voice. Chord maps live under %APPDATA%\devdesk\ (legacy ai-keyboard config is migrated once if present).
Switch presets whenever you change tools.
3. Enter AI mode
Press Ctrl+Shift+Space (or use Enter AI mode from the UI).
Look at the bottom-center pill — for example AI MODE · Cursor. That confirms remaps are active for the selected preset.
Exit anytime with Esc or the same hotkey.
4. Learn the AI mode keys
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Hold Space | Triggers the preset’s in-app Voice hotkey (Cursor: Ctrl+M) |
A |
Accept |
R |
Reject |
Enter |
Send |
N |
New agent |
Notes:
- Unmapped keys and
Ctrl/Alt/Metachords still pass through. - A short Space tap still inserts a space.
- Hold Space injects the app’s own voice chord — no cloud speech-to-text on that path.
5. Try a first workflow
- Focus Cursor (or your chosen tool) with an agent suggestion or chat ready.
- Enter AI mode.
- Press A to accept or R to reject.
- Hold Space to start the tool’s voice input; release when finished.
- Press Enter to send when you need it.
- Exit AI mode and keep typing normally.
6. Permissions and antivirus
- Windows: Devdesk uses a keyboard hook for remaps and synthetic key injection. Some antivirus tools may warn — that is expected for this class of utility.
- Network: Used when checking for updates.
- Logs: Release builds write to
%APPDATA%\devdesk\logs\.
7. Optional: Support badge
Devdesk is free to use. If you want to support Weaveit, purchase an optional Support badge from the site — pay what you want at checkout.
Next reads
- Devdesk vs Codex Micropad — software layer vs dedicated hardware
- Best alternatives to Codex Micropad — category roundup
- Software alternative to AI macro keyboards — why remaps beat another pad for many workflows
Ready? Download Devdesk and press Ctrl+Shift+Space.
Ready for your AI keyboard layer?