OpenChonker Download

v0.1.1 · Open source · Not affiliated with ChonkerKeys

Your macropad.
Finally open.

The open-source companion for ChonkerKeys macropads, for when the official app stopped shipping.

Download for macOS Install via Homebrew

Apple Silicon · or build from source

Original · muted

Everything the official app isn't

OpenChonker talks straight to the firmware: same protocol, none of the wait.

Actually open source

MIT OR Apache-2.0, clean-room protocol notes from the public QMK sources at oursky/qmk_firmware.

No official app required

The vendor app hasn't shipped since v1.5.0.0 in January 2024. OpenChonker speaks CDC directly to the firmware.

Never steals focus

Shortcuts post through macOS Accessibility straight to the frontmost app, no window jumps forward.

Auto layer switching

~1×/sec, OpenChonker finds your live meeting and switches shortcuts to match, automatically.

OpenChonker vs. the official app

Not a clone, and not pretending to be a full replacement yet. Here's exactly where each stands.

Official app v1.5.0.0 · 3 Jan 2024
  • Closed source
  • Not updated since Jan 2024
  • Protocol not published
  • Focus behavior undocumented
  • Slack huddles undocumented
  • Requires the official app, by definition
  • Firmware flashing (closed pipeline)
OpenChonker v0.1.1 · 22 Sep 2026
  • MIT OR Apache-2.0
  • Actively developed
  • docs/protocol.md, docs/hardware.md
  • Verified: never steals focus
  • Yes, host-side remap
  • Yes, speaks CDC directly
  • Firmware flashing (open QMK generator)

Only one process can own the CDC port at a time: quit the official app before launching OpenChonker.

Where it works

About once a second, OpenChonker finds the live meeting and points every shortcut and LED at it.

Zoom

zoom-macos

us.zoom.xos

auto-detected

Microsoft Teams

teams-macos

com.microsoft.teams(2)

auto-detected

Google Meet

meet-macos

browser window title

auto-detected

Slack huddle

host remap

huddle UI, no firmware layer

auto-detected

Works on both Original (5 keys, 2×4) and Max (9 keys, 3×4). --no-auto-layer keeps shortcuts routed to the live meeting without switching the pad's own layer.

Install

01

Get the app

Notarized, Apple Silicon. Installs /Applications/OpenChonker.app plus chonker on your PATH.

Download for macOS
brew tap OpenChonker/openchonker
brew install --cask openchonker

On Intel: build from source, or brew install openchonker for the from-source formula.

02

Or build from source

cargo build --release
./scripts/bundle-macos.sh
open ./target/release/OpenChonker.app

Rust 1.70+. CLI-only builds run wherever Rust does; the menu bar app is macOS-only today.

03

Grant Accessibility

System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility → enable OpenChonker. Restart the app after toggling. Without it, mute just won't type.

!

Quit the official app first

Only one process can own the CDC port. OpenChonker never sends Reset. After ~10s idle, the pad goes back to typing HID shortcuts on its own.

Take back your macropad.

Open source, actively developed, and it never steals your window focus.

Download for macOS