The Art of the Bodge: How I Made The Emoji Keyboard

Tom Scott · 3.5M views · 2015-09-24 · 17:15

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Overview

Tom Scott explains how he built his emoji keyboard, which turned out to be a series of bodged-together tools including AutoHotkey and LuaMacros. He tells stories about the value of quick-and-dirty solutions.

On Hacker News

HN links it as a charming defense of bodging and of AutoHotkey, and as the go-to example when custom keyboards or hotkey hacks come up.

Recommended by 4 HN people across 3 months · HN mentions 2018–2024

Topics

Embedded systems & DIY electronics Software practice, open source & careers Consumer devices & gadgets

What people said

lcnPylGDnU4H9OF · 2022-09 · Recommendation
I can't disagree, even if I would prefer something else. Easily the most compelling argument I've heard for Windows is Tom Scott's: [VIDEO] .
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dijit · 2020-08 · Recommendation
Never underestimate the art of the bodge, it's quite literally keeping the world ticking over, perfection has a place but it is rare and fleeting. I saw a good talk on it from Tom Scott some time ago[0] which I think is relevant. [0]: [VIDEO]
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modernerd · 2020-05 · Recommendation
AutoHotKey (in addition to WSL and VS Code) was enough to make me Windows-curious and eventually try a Windows laptop again after 10+ years on Mac. I first found out about AHK via Tom Scott's similar ode here: [VIDEO] He describes it as “a bodge that helps you make other bodges”, which is beautifully put. [For those outside the UK, a “bodge” is a clumsy hack or repair.]
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Sources

Video by Tom Scott, played through YouTube.

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