AutoHotkey

AutoHotkey is an open-source scripting language built around a single core idea. Any repeated keystroke sequence, mouse movement, window action, or text can be turned into a script and triggered with a single key combination.

It began in 2003 as a fork of AutoIt, specifically focused on keyboard shortcut support, and has evolved into a much broader automation environment with its own syntax, GUI library, COM connections, and the ability to compile scripts into standalone executable files.

What sets it apart from typical macro recorders is that it doesn't just record and play back. You write code. A two-line script can reassign the Caps Lock key to a useful key, expand "btw" to "by the way" wherever you type, or launch your most used apps with a keyboard shortcut.

A two-hundred-line script can create a custom launcher with a tray icon, settings window, and persistent disk presence. The same tool covers both endpoints.