SnipExpand

Fast, config-based text expansion for Linux and Wayland. First-class support for Omarchy and Hyprland.

Features

• System-wide, clipboard-free expansion
• Immediate or terminator-based expansion
• Plain text and multiline replacements
• Cursor placement with $|$
• Recursive YAML configuration with automatic reload
• Multiple triggers for one replacement
• Word boundaries, case propagation, and date variables
• Immediate Backspace undo for simple expansions
• Application exclusions
• Persistent Wayland injection with a uinput fallback
• Strict validation and diagnostics

SnipExpand does not run scripts, display forms, insert rich content, or provide a package registry. See the compatibility matrix.

Why SnipExpand?

Text expansion on Omarchy and Hyprland is still unreliable or awkward. SnipExpand was built specifically to work well there. Compare it with the alternatives below.

Alternatives

Requirements

Omarchy includes everything SnipExpand needs by default. On other Wayland systems, you need:

• libxkbcommon and Wayland client libraries
• Read access to /dev/input/event*, usually through the system input group
• wtype for the Unicode fallback path

Hyprland is the supported and tested compositor. Other Wayland compositors may work but are not yet part of the supported test matrix.

Install

Install from crates.io:

cargo install snipexpand

Prebuilt x86_64 and aarch64 binaries are available from GitHub Releases.

Set up

snipexpand install
snipexpand doctor

First use creates any missing starter files without overwriting your config. install starts the service and enables it for future sessions. If doctor reports missing input access, follow its instructions once.

Configure

Add a simple expansion from the command line:

snipexpand add ';mail' 'user@example.com'

For advanced matches, create or edit a YAML file below ~/.config/snipexpand/match/:

global_vars:
  - name: today
    type: date
    params:
      format: "%Y-%m-%d"

matches:
  # Multiple triggers, one replacement
  - triggers: [";mail", ";email"]
    replace: "user@example.com"

  # Whole-word matching and multiline text
  - trigger: ";sig"
    word: true
    replace: |
      Best regards,
      Your Name

  # Put the cursor at $|$ after expansion
  - trigger: ";function"
    replace: |
      fn example() {
          $|$
      }

  # Insert a formatted date
  - trigger: ";today"
    replace: "{{today}}"

$|$ marks the cursor position. Match files reload when saved.

Settings live in ~/.config/snipexpand/config.yml:

# Choose when expansion happens.
trigger_mode: space        # immediate | space
terminators: [space]       # any of: space, enter, tab

# Prefer native Wayland injection and fall back to uinput.
injection_backend: auto    # auto | wayland | uinput

# Tune these only if an application drops or reorders characters.
injection_delay_ms: 1
wayland_injection_delay_ms: 0
uinput_injection_delay_ms: 1
injection_settle_ms: 10

# Backspace immediately after a simple expansion to restore its trigger.
undo_enabled: true         # true | false

# Optional. Disable expansion in matching applications. Default: []
app_exclusions:
  - class: "^1Password$"
  - class: "^org\\.keepassxc\\.KeePassXC$"

Run snipexpand detect while an application is focused to find the title, class, and executable values needed for an exclusion.

Commands

snipexpand [COMMAND]
sxp [COMMAND]                    Short form

(no command)                     Run the daemon in the foreground
init                             Explicitly create starter configuration
add TRIGGER TEXT                 Add or replace a generated expansion
remove TRIGGER                   Remove a generated expansion
list                             List triggers and source files
check                            Validate configuration
detect                           Inspect the focused application
reload                           Reload the running daemon
status [--json]                  Show daemon and configuration status
doctor                           Diagnose setup and runtime requirements
install                          Install and start the user service

Undo

Press Backspace immediately after a plain, single-line expansion to restore its trigger. Undo is unavailable for multiline and cursor-positioned expansions.

Security

SnipExpand reads global keyboard events through Linux input devices, including sensitive input. Install only binaries you trust.

Application exclusions prevent expansion in matching applications, but they do not stop the daemon from receiving keyboard events. Wayland does not expose a browser's focused field type, so system-wide expanders cannot identify password fields inside an otherwise allowed browser.

SnipExpand does not execute snippets, access the clipboard, or contact online services.

Documentation

• Espanso compatibility
• Roadmap

Development

cargo fmt --check
cargo clippy --all-targets -- -D warnings
cargo test

License

GNU General Public License v3.0 or later.

Other platforms offer polished text expansion built in or through expensive software. Linux users should not have to settle for less or pay a costly subscription for basic infrastructure. SnipExpand is free and open source so anyone can use it, study it, improve it, and share it.

Anyone who distributes a modified version must make its source available under compatible terms. The project cannot be repackaged and distributed as closed-source software. Private use and private modifications remain private.