# Hammerspoon

> Lua scripting bridge for automating windows, keyboard shortcuts, Wi-Fi events and more on macOS

Source: https://optioncmd.com/hammerspoon
Website: https://www.hammerspoon.org/?utm_source=optioncmd
Pricing: Free
Categories: [Launchers & automation](https://optioncmd.com/categories/launchers.md), [Developer tools](https://optioncmd.com/categories/developer-tools.md)
Listed: 2026-10-21
Updated: 2026-10-21

Hammerspoon is an automation tool for macOS that connects the operating system to a Lua scripting engine. It's for power users and developers who are comfortable writing code to make their Mac react to events.

**Key features:**

- Write Lua code that controls apps, windows, the mouse pointer, files, audio devices, screens, the clipboard, and Wi-Fi.
- Bind a keyboard shortcut to a series of window operations or an AppleScript.
- Run commands when events happen, such as joining your home Wi-Fi network or the battery dropping below a set level.
- Add ready-made plugins called Spoons, or write your own extensions in Lua or Objective-C.

Hammerspoon does nothing out of the box; you configure it in `~/.hammerspoon/init.lua` using the Getting Started Guide and API documentation. Install it by dragging the app to Applications, and check the release notes for versions that work on older macOS releases. It's an open source project on GitHub with a community Discord.

## More launchers & automation apps

- [Raycast](https://optioncmd.com/raycast.md): Extendable keyboard launcher with clipboard history, snippets, window management and built-in AI
- [Alfred](https://optioncmd.com/alfred.md): Keyboard launcher for apps, files, web searches, clipboard history and custom workflows
- [BetterTouchTool](https://optioncmd.com/bettertouchtool.md): Customize trackpad gestures, mouse buttons, shortcuts, the menu bar and Stream Deck, then chain actions
- [Keyboard Maestro](https://optioncmd.com/keyboard-maestro.md): Macro-based automation for launching apps, typing text, arranging windows and filling web forms
- [Hazel](https://optioncmd.com/hazel.md): Rule-based file organizer that watches folders and moves, renames, tags and cleans up files for you