What is Hammerspoon?
Hammerspoon is a macOS automation tool that exposes system APIs through Lua scripting. Window management, hotkeys, clipboard monitoring, Wi-Fi events, USB device detection - if macOS can do it, you can script it with Hammerspoon. Common uses include window management (move/resize windows with hotkeys), app launching shortcuts, automatic actions based on location or connected devices, and custom menu bar items. The Lua API is well-documented with many example configs available. For developers who want complete control over their Mac automation, Hammerspoon is unmatched in power. The scripting approach means anything is possible, but it requires more investment than GUI-based tools like BetterTouchTool.
Pros
- Complete system access
- Lua is easy to learn
- Unlimited customization
- Active community
- Well-documented API
- Completely free
Cons
- Scripting required
- No GUI configuration
- macOS only