Weird Interaction with AltTab on MacOS

[blackace72]

Problem:

I use AltTab for switching windows, with hotkey bound to cmd-tab. Using cmd-tab disables triggering of matches, unless I hit cmd again. Won't even trigger within 20 seconds of writing match. This happens every time I use the hotkey. However, if I switch the hotkey to option-Tab, then the replacement will eventually trigger after ~6 seconds.

Expected behavior:

Immediately trigger replacement when match is written, even after switching windows/apps

Background:

• OS: MacOS 12.0.1 (MacOS Monterey)
• espanso: 2.0.5~alpha
• AltTab: 6.26
• toggle_key: "RIGHT_ALT"

Workarounds

• Manually clicking between apps
• Disable AltTab
• (partial workaround) Switch AltTab hotkey to option-Tab

What I've noticed:

• After cmd-tab, persists even when I click on other apps
• cmd-tab doesn’t fix it (doesn’t reverse the problem)
• Doesn’t matter how long I wait in between one cmd-tab and another
• Doesn’t matter how long I wait in between holding cmd and hitting tab
• Only cmd allows the triggers again (not Esc, control, or option)
• If I switch the AltTab hotkey to option-Tab, then the cmd-tab problem still persists, but now WILL trigger after a short delay (about 6 seconds);
• Hitting tab-cmd doesn’t cause problems
• Hitting control-cmd doesn’t cause problems
• Hitting option-cmd doesn’t cause problems

Other github problems referenced and tried solutions:

• [Bug] ALT-Tabbing turns on and off Espanso #815 suggests that alt-tab disables espanso because of hitting activation key twice in a row; don’t think this is the case because mine is set to right alt (i.e. right option)
• Enable/disable on mod/alt key listener should ignore other modifiers #646 suggests an alt-key + modifier issue; workaround was swapping activation key to right alt, but this doesn’t help my situation.

[blackace72]

Update:

Used a different switcher app called Contexts and there is no longer a problem; trigger expands immediately and don't need to hit cmd after each window switch!

[federico-terzi]

Hey @blackace72,

Thanks for reporting this issue! This issue is very interesting, as fixing this problem might help us on other issues (such as #825). Could you please try reproducing the problem again with the AltTab software and then posting the output of espanso log here?

I'm particularly interested in the logs that are produced when you say "the replacement will eventually trigger after ~6 seconds"

Cheers :)

[blackace72]

Log I got from using option-tab on AltTab

01:50:28 [worker(17073)] [
WARN] injection delay has timed out, please release the modifier keys (SHIFT, CTRL, ALT, CMD) to trigger an expansion
01:50:31 [worker(17073)] [WARN] injection delay has timed out, please release the modifier keys (SHIFT, CTRL, ALT, CMD) to trigger an expansion

Another test option-tab:

01:53:07 [worker(17073)] [WARN] 
injection delay has timed out, please release the modifier keys (SHIFT, CTRL, ALT, CMD) to trigger an expansion
01:53:11 [worker(17073)] [WARN] injection delay has timed out, please release the modifier keys (SHIFT, CTRL, ALT, CMD) to trigger an expansion

Even though the logs show about 3-4 seconds, it is actually about 6 seconds of delay (not sure if it helps :))

Also, nothing shows in the log for AltTab using cmd-tab, or Contexts using cmd-tab (I think log is only to find problems?)

[federico-terzi]

@blackace72 Thanks! That's helpful :)

[federico-terzi]

Hey @blackace72,

The next version 2.1.0-alpha will include a fix for this problem, thank you for the help! :)

Cheers :)