Bench notes

Short technical field notes on systems weirdness

30 Dec 2025

Mash keys in MPV to learn them

Check out mpv --input-test --force-window --idle. This opens an idle MPV window to eats all keyboard inputs and report back what commands MPV would have normally ran. In other words, mash your keyboard and mouse to learn all the keyboard inputs!

mpv --input-test --force-window --idle then mash keys

(Spotted the above command in the MPV manpage, under Command Interface → input.conf.)


Why did I end up elbow-deep in MPV documentation? I had accidentally scrolled left or right and lost my place watching Ad Astra. Argh!!! Indeed, I disabled horizontal scrolling which defaults to seeking the track. Brush your trackpad and whoops, seeks ahead, and oopsie woopsie— spoilers! Prickly default.