ShortcutFoo: Master keyboard shortcuts in no time

28.09.2012
If you find yourself reaching for the mouse too often, Web app ShortcutFoo ($5, free demo with feature limitations) can help you start using the keyboard for everything.

That's right. Not just in Gmail, but in Photoshop, Microsoft Visual Studio, Eclipse, and more. So, put your mouse out of reach, and let your fingers do the talking.

Unlike KeyRocket, a shortcut learning application that teaches you while you work, ShortcutFoo works as a dedicated learning environment.

You go to the website to learn. Keyboard shortcuts for every application are organized into bundles of related functions, each with just a handful of keys to master. Shortcuts are all about muscle memory, and ShortcutFoo's simple learning interface reflects this. A function description flashes on the screen (for example, "Select read conversations"), and you must tap the right key or key combination for it. A new description immediately flashes on the screen, awaiting another keystroke. A running log of your taps shows whether or not you got each shortcut right.

ShortcutFoo offers two learning modes, Practice and Drill.

Practice mode is for learning shortcuts you don't know yet. It prompts you for the shortcut, but if you wait a moment without typing anything, it then reveals the shortcut and waits for you to tap it. You can also set Practice mode to reveal the shortcut keys instantly, or not show them at all. A Practice session lasts as long as you want it to, and you get accuracy stats when you're done.