Problem
Developers type repetitive CLI commands dozens of times daily:
git add . && git commit -m "..." && git pushnpm run testdocker-compose up -dkubectl apply -f deployment.yaml
Switching to terminal and typing long commands breaks the flow of thought and reduces productivity.
Pain Intensity: 8/10 - Occurs dozens of times per day
Market
- Primary Market: macOS developers (approximately 24M worldwide)
- Segment: Full-stack developers, DevOps engineers, indie hackers
- TAM: Workflow Automation market $23.89B in 2026 (YoY +14.3%)
- SAM: Developer tools segment ~$2B
Solution
DevHotkeys - A macOS menu bar app that executes development workflows with custom hotkeys
Core Features
- Macro Key Mapping: Assign commands to unused keys like Caps Lock, F13~F24
- Workflow Chaining: Execute multiple commands sequentially/parallel
- Visual Feedback: Check execution status from menu bar
- Project Profiles: Different hotkey sets per directory
Usage Examples
Caps Lock + G → git add . && git commit && git push
Caps Lock + T → npm run test
Caps Lock + D → docker-compose up -d
Caps Lock + K → kubectl apply -f ./k8s/
Competition
| Competitor | Price | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Alfred | $34 | General launcher, lacks CLI focus |
| Raycast | Free/$8/mo | Complex extensions, learning curve |
| Keyboard Maestro | $36 | Feature bloat, not developer-focused |
Competition Intensity: BLUE Ocean - No developer CLI-focused hotkey tool Differentiation: Designed for development workflows, zero-config start
MVP Development
- MVP Timeline: 6 weeks
- Full Version: 4 months
- Technical Complexity: Low
- Required Stack: Swift, macOS API, Accessibility API
MVP Scope
- Caps Lock remapping
- 5 custom hotkeys
- Terminal command execution
- Menu bar status display
Revenue Model
- Model: One-time Purchase + Optional Pro upgrade
- Pricing: $9 (Basic) / $19 (Pro - unlimited hotkeys, cloud sync)
- Projected MRR (6 months): $2,000-5,000
- Projected MRR (12 months): $8,000-15,000
Risk
| Type | Level | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | Low | Stable macOS API |
| Market | Medium | Could be replaced by Raycast extension |
| Execution | Low | Within solo dev scope |
Recommendation
Score: 84/100 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why Recommended
- Clear pain point and target customer
- Fast MVP development possible (6 weeks)
- Developer community viral potential
- One-time payment enables quick revenue validation
First Actions
- Develop MVP with Caps Lock remapping + 5 hotkeys
- Launch on Hacker News “Show HN”
- Collect developer community feedback
This idea was derived from a creative combination of CapslockMute and Cosmic AI Workflows.