Node.js global native keyboard and mouse listener.
This module can handle keyboard and mouse events via native hooks.

If you like this module or are interested in updates, follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/wilixlead

Already tested in:

• Ubuntu 16.04
• macOS Sierra 10.12
• Windows (NOT TESTED YET)

This module use native library libuiohook and require some installed packages.
I really hope find way for use build systems for online build or download prebuild packages.

npm install iohook --save

Before install this module, you need specify build runtime. Just add following to your package.json file (if you use two-package-json structure, add to app's package.json, not to build).
Checkout your ABI for node.js or electron

"iohook": {
  "targets": [
    "node-51"
    "electron-53"
  ],
  "platforms": [
    "win32",
    "darwin",
    "linux"
  ],
  "arches": [
    "x64",
    "ia32"
  ]
}

NOTE: Please remember, when you install iohook, it try to use current node environment NOT ELECTRON OR NW.js

iohook support prebuilded binaries for next environment versions:

• electron:

  • [47] 1.0.2
  • [48] 1.2.8
  • [49] 1.3.13
  • [50] 1.4.15
  • [51] 1.5.0
  • [53] 1.6.0

• node:

  • [46] 4.6.1
  • [47] 5.12.0
  • [48] 6.9.4
  • [51] 7.4.0

Support for node.js v0.12, io.js, nw.js is planed.

iohook have prebuild binaries, it downloads when you try to install it.
But if you use specified version of node.js/nw.js/io.js/electron/etc. you can try compile it.
All what you need install os dependencies and start compilation:

• sudo apt install libx11-dev libxtst-dev libxt-dev libx11-xcb-dev
• sudo apt install libxkbcommon-dev libxkbcommon-x11-dev
• cd node_modules/iohook
• npm run build

• brew install cmake automake libtool pkg-config
• cd node_modules/iohook
• npm run build

Module is pretty simple for use. There is example:

'use strict';
const ioHook = require('iohook');

ioHook.on("mousemove", event => {
  console.log(event);
  /* You get object like this
    {
      type: 'mousemove',
      x: 700,
      y: 400
    }
   */
});

//Register and start hook
ioHook.start();

If type ioHook.start(true); you can enable debug logger in native lib. Use it if you have troubles with this module

Calls when user press and release a key. Event contain next object:
{keychar: 'f', keycode: 19, rawcode: 15, type: 'keypress'}

Calls when user press a key. Event contain next object:
{ keychar: 'd', keycode: 46, rawcode: 8, type: 'keydown' }

Calls when user release a key. Event contain next object:
{keychar: 'f', keycode: 19, rawcode: 15, type: 'keup'}

Calls when user click mouse button. Event contain next object:
{ button: 1, clicks: 1, x: 545, y: 696, type: 'mouseclick' }

Calls when user press and release a key. Event contain next object:
{ button: 1, clicks: 1, x: 545, y: 696, type: 'mousedown' }

Calls when user press and release a key. Event contain next object:
{ button: 1, clicks: 1, x: 545, y: 696, type: 'mouseup' }

Calls when user press and release a key. Event contain next object:
{ button: 0, clicks: 0, x: 521, y: 737, type: 'mousemove' }

Calls when user press and release a key. Event contain next object:
{ button: 0, clicks: 0, x: 373, y: 683, type: 'mousedrag' }

Calls when user press and release a key. Event contain next object:
{ amount: 3, clicks: 1, direction: 3, rotation: 1, type: 'mousewheel', x: 466, y: 683 }

In some cases, most often when you make mouse moves or keyboard events very fast, module crash with "Segmentation fault: 11". Looks like it is problem in my native implementation, but I still can't find a problem. Will be happy if somebody helps with it.

Thanks for libuiohook project!
Thank you ayoubserti for first iohook prototype
Thank you vespakoen for prebuild system implementation