Post Archive
› May 3, 2005
Synergy - Keyboard and mouse sharing
The GNU licensed Synergy is a real workflow changer. With a very simple config text file, I've got this tiny server running here on my powerbook. Moving the mouse all the way to the right side of my screen it seamlessly slips over to my Windows PC screen. It works just like when you have two monitors hooked up to your Mac, except in this case, you can start using another operating system without the clutter of another keyboard/mouse, and without slowing your primary machine down through emulation or screen drawing (like you would with Virtual PC or VNC). Found via aplus moments.
The app is extremely small, works on various flavors of Windows, Mac OS X 10.2+, and Unix. Any machine it runs on can be the server; others: clients (same app for both). Configuration is really very simple, although I think the help instructions could be a little friendlier. One tip for OS X users, if you start out by modifying the config file that comes in the download, open it in BBEdit and chose "Show Invisibles" to get rid of stray characters that may keep the config file from being read.
Comments
1. May 3, 2005 03:32 AM
2. May 3, 2005 03:43 AM
Nate Posted…
Wow! I didn't even realize about the clipboard part, that's really neat. Now I just have to put both screens on the same desk so I'm not turning my head 180° like an owl.
3. May 3, 2005 09:59 AM
bw Posted…
Wow !!!
Thanks for pointing me to this gem. I still can't believe that it's possible to do that SO easily, but it sure is !!
Can't remember how long I was waiting for something like this !!
Wow again...
4. May 3, 2005 04:34 PM
Scott Posted…
I've wanted to try this program out for some time, but my machines are always in separate locations. I'm glad to see other people are finding it useful.
5. May 4, 2005 04:52 AM
David Posted…
Synergy is nice, although it has some annoying bugs (clipboard not working sometimes, caps/num/scroll lock out of sync)... I've been using it for a long time and cannot imagine how I could ever live without it before...6. June 4, 2005 07:05 PM
Nate Posted…
This takes all the headaches out of setting up Synergy on OS X Synergy: The Missing GUI - a simple to use preference pane! I wish I had found this originally, this is much easier to use.
7. June 5, 2005 02:50 AM
Erik Posted…
All I can say is WOW...SERIOUSLY! I am a web developer with graphic apps on one system, video/media apps on anther and code apps on another...now I can bounce from system to system like nobodys business..thanks to the folks who developed and released synergy.
8. May 22, 2006 02:06 AM
Jim Posted…
Yep, its true. People are in awe of my side-by-side windows/linux screens that share a keyboard and mouse -- this is great cross-platform software; windows, *nix, mac, mix & match! Clipboard is buggy and that is annoying, but still... It has allowed me to remove a keyboard and a mouse from my desk, and for that I am truly grateful.
Xian Posted…
I second and third Synergy's usefulness. Another notable feature is that is synchronizes your clipboard between machines. The first time I got it working I felt like I was cheating reality somehow.