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  • 8 min read

Easy-to-Use AutoHotkey/AutoIt Alternatives for Linux: Top GUI Automation & Macro Platforms to Try

Introduction

For Windows users, AutoHotkey (AHK) and AutoIt have long been go-to tools for GUI automation, macro recording, and scripting. These tools simplify repetitive tasks—from text expansion and hotkey customization to complex cross-application workflows—with intuitive scripting and visual interfaces. However, Linux users often face a challenge: AutoHotkey and AutoIt are Windows-exclusive.

Fortunately, Linux offers a robust ecosystem of native tools that replicate (and sometimes exceed) AHK/AutoIt’s functionality. Whether you’re a beginner seeking a user-friendly GUI or an advanced user craving powerful scripting, there’s a Linux alternative tailored to your needs. In this blog, we’ll explore the top tools for GUI automation and macros on Linux, breaking down their features, use cases, and how to get started.

  • in easy
  • 7 min read

Easiest Way to Display Continuously Updating Images in C on Linux (Ubuntu): Fast FPS for Realtime Data

Introduction

Real-time image display is a cornerstone of applications like robotics, computer vision, sensor data visualization (e.g., thermal cameras, LiDAR), and embedded systems. For developers working in C on Linux (Ubuntu), achieving fast frame rates (FPS) with minimal latency is critical—but it can be challenging to balance simplicity, performance, and compatibility.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the easiest, most efficient method to display continuously updating images in C on Ubuntu. We’ll use SDL2 (Simple DirectMedia Layer 2), a lightweight, cross-platform library optimized for real-time graphics and low overhead. While SDL3 (currently at version 3.4.14) is now the latest stable release, SDL2 remains widely used and fully supported via the official sdl2-compat compatibility layer, which runs SDL2 applications on top of SDL3. This makes the SDL2 approach shown here future-proof and a solid choice for real-time image display. By the end, you’ll have a working example that renders dynamic images at high FPS, ready to integrate with real-world data sources like sensors or cameras.