ghosthand type
Usage
ghosthand type <text> ghosthand type --stdin
Options
| Option | Description |
--stdin | Read UTF-8 text to EOF; remove one final LF or CRLF; never echo the input |
--keep-final-newline | With --stdin: preserve the final newline (LF sends Enter; CR is unsupported) |
--enter | Press Enter after the text (sends a message in Messages) |
--screenshot [path] | Save a screenshot after the action once the screen stops changing (default: screenshot.png); not available while locked |
--screentext | Print the OCR text of the screen after the action (x,y wxh text, after --screenshot if both); uses --language |
--language [tag] | OCR language, e.g. it-IT; en-US is always included. Env: GHOSTHAND_LANGUAGE |
--wait-text [text] | After input, poll real OCR for this case-insensitive substring; never repeat input |
--timeout-ms [ms] | With --wait-text: verification deadline, 1...60000 ms (default: 5000); starts after input completes |
Also takes the global options.
Details
Keys go to the field that has focus. Before typing, read a screenshot and check the
cursor is in the right field; if not, tap that field first.
- Key holds and gaps vary, averaging about 43 ms per character, with short pauses at spaces, tabs and newlines. No typos or extra characters are added.
- --stdin accepts no positional text. One final LF or CRLF is removed by default; spaces, tabs and other LF newlines are preserved. LF sends Enter; tab moves focus. --keep-final-newline preserves LF, and --enter sends an additional Enter.
- All input is validated before connecting or sending any key. Unsupported control characters, invalid UTF-8, accents and emoji fail without echoing input.
- Messages: Enter in the To: field adds the recipient but keeps focus there. Tap the message field, check the screenshot, then
type "..." --enter(Enter sends). Only US-ASCII: no accents or emoji. iOS autocorrect may change a word; check with --screenshot before --enter. - XCTest mode: types any text (accents, emoji) into the field that has focus; tap the field first so the keyboard shows. WebDriverAgent does not check focus: with no field focused
typestill says "typed" and nothing happens. Use --screenshot or --wait-text. - Password fields: while a secure field has focus, screenshots show the old screen for 2-30 s. Type once, wait, or press
key tabbefore you read the screen. Never type again because the screen looks unchanged: that once doubled a password. Never tap "Show password". To clear a secure field, tap it and presskey backspaceonce per character; cmd+a did not clear it reliably. - SIM PIN sheet (Settings > Cellular > SIM PIN) ignores the Bluetooth keyboard: tap the on-screen keypad digits, one dot per tap, then Done ONCE. If the PIN is rejected or the result is unclear, stop and ask the user: 3 wrong PINs lock the SIM (PUK).
Examples
$ ghosthand type -l 42 "ciao" --enter --screenshot after.png $ secret-provider | ghosthand type -l 42 --stdin
MCP tool
The same command is the MCP tool
type; flags are arguments.