// FuckCapsLock — Permanently disable the vestigial Caps Lock key.
// Copyright (c) 2026 Llama Chile Shop. MIT License.
//
// This application was pair-programmed by:
// gramps@llamachile.shop (senior developer, direct supervision)
// opencode (AI pair programmer)
//
// Under direct, senior supervision, paired programming can be an
// effective and efficient tool.
//
// Installs a low-level keyboard hook (WH_KEYBOARD_LL) that swallows
// VK_CAPITAL (0x14) before it reaches any window. Runs in the system
// tray until the user exits via the context menu.
//
// System calls reference:
// SetWindowsHookEx / UnhookWindowsHookEx / CallNextHookEx — user32.dll
// GetModuleHandle — kernel32.dll
// Registry.CurrentUser\...\Run — auto-start on boot
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using Microsoft.Win32;
static class Program
{
/// Low-level keyboard hook identifier — intercepts keys before any window.
const int WH_KEYBOARD_LL = 13;
/// Virtual-key code for Caps Lock — the only key this app blocks.
const int VK_CAPITAL = 0x14;
/// Callback signature for LowLevelKeyboardProc used by SetWindowsHookEx.
/// Hook code — >= 0 means the hook should process the message.
/// Message type (WM_KEYDOWN, WM_KEYUP, etc.).
/// Pointer to a KBDLLHOOKSTRUCT with the raw key data.
/// 1 to swallow the key, or CallNextHookEx to let it through.
delegate IntPtr LowLevelKeyboardProc(int nCode, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam);
/// Installs a low-level keyboard hook into the global hook chain.
/// Hook type — WH_KEYBOARD_LL (13) for keyboard events.
/// Pointer to the callback function.
/// Module handle for the current process.
/// 0 = hook applies globally to all threads in this desktop.
/// Hook handle on success, IntPtr.Zero on failure.
[DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto, SetLastError = true)]
static extern IntPtr SetWindowsHookEx(int idHook, LowLevelKeyboardProc lpfn, IntPtr hMod, uint dwThreadId);
/// Removes a previously installed hook from the hook chain.
/// Hook handle returned by SetWindowsHookEx.
/// True on success.
[DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto, SetLastError = true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
static extern bool UnhookWindowsHookEx(IntPtr hhk);
/// Passes the hook event to the next hook in the chain.
[DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto, SetLastError = true)]
static extern IntPtr CallNextHookEx(IntPtr hhk, int nCode, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam);
/// Retrieves the module handle for the calling process — required by SetWindowsHookEx.
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto, SetLastError = true)]
static extern IntPtr GetModuleHandle(string lpModuleName);
/// Structure deserialized from the lParam pointer in the hook callback.
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
struct KBDLLHOOKSTRUCT
{
public uint vkCode;
public uint scanCode;
public uint flags;
public uint time;
public IntPtr dwExtraInfo;
}
/// Cached delegate — prevents garbage collection of the callback.
static LowLevelKeyboardProc _proc = HookCallback;
/// Active hook handle returned by SetWindowsHookEx.
static IntPtr _hookId = IntPtr.Zero;
/// System tray icon — visible while the app is running.
static NotifyIcon? _trayIcon;
///
/// Entry point. Registers auto-start, enforces a single instance via a
/// named mutex, installs the keyboard hook, and runs the WinForms message
/// loop. The app lives in the system tray until Exit is selected.
///
[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
RegisterStartup();
// Named mutex prevents multiple instances — second launch exits silently.
using var mutex = new Mutex(true, @"Global\FuckCapsLock", out var createdNew);
if (!createdNew)
return;
// Install the low-level hook; bail if it fails (e.g., insufficient permissions).
_hookId = SetHook(_proc);
if (_hookId == IntPtr.Zero)
return;
ApplicationConfiguration.Initialize();
// Hidden window — required to pump messages and keep the hook alive.
using var form = new Form();
form.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized;
form.ShowInTaskbar = false;
form.Load += (_, _) => form.Hide();
// Tray icon with Exit context menu to cleanly unhook and quit.
_trayIcon = new NotifyIcon
{
Icon = SystemIcons.Application,
Text = "FuckCapsLock",
ContextMenuStrip = new ContextMenuStrip()
};
_trayIcon.ContextMenuStrip.Items.Add("Exit", null, (_, _) =>
{
_trayIcon.Visible = false;
Application.Exit();
});
_trayIcon.Visible = true;
// Blocks until the form closes (Exit is clicked or process is killed).
Application.Run(form);
// Remove the hook when the app exits.
UnhookWindowsHookEx(_hookId);
}
///
/// Writes the current executable path to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
/// CurrentVersion\Run so the app auto-starts on login. Silently ignores
/// errors (no admin rights needed for HKCU).
///
static void RegisterStartup()
{
try
{
using var key = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey(
@"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run", true);
if (key is null) return;
var path = Environment.ProcessPath;
if (path is null) return;
// Quote the path if it contains spaces (standard Windows practice).
var value = path.Contains(' ') ? $"\"{path}\"" : path;
// Only write if the path has changed — avoids unnecessary registry churn.
var existing = key.GetValue("FuckCapsLock") as string;
if (!string.Equals(existing, value, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
key.SetValue("FuckCapsLock", value);
}
catch { }
}
///
/// Installs the low-level keyboard hook using SetWindowsHookEx.
///
/// Delegate to the callback that processes each key event.
/// Hook handle or IntPtr.Zero if installation failed.
static IntPtr SetHook(LowLevelKeyboardProc proc)
{
using var curProcess = Process.GetCurrentProcess();
using var curModule = curProcess.MainModule;
return SetWindowsHookEx(WH_KEYBOARD_LL, proc,
GetModuleHandle(curModule!.ModuleName), 0);
}
///
/// Hook callback invoked for every keyboard event. If the key is VK_CAPITAL (Caps Lock),
/// the event is swallowed by returning 1 without calling CallNextHookEx. All other keys
/// pass through normally.
///
/// >= 0 means the hook should process the event.
/// Window message type (WM_KEYDOWN, WM_SYSKEYUP, etc.).
/// Pointer to a KBDLLHOOKSTRUCT with the raw key data.
/// 1 if Caps Lock was blocked; otherwise the result of CallNextHookEx.
static IntPtr HookCallback(int nCode, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam)
{
if (nCode >= 0)
{
var hookStruct = Marshal.PtrToStructure(lParam);
if (hookStruct.vkCode == VK_CAPITAL)
return (IntPtr)1; // Swallow the key — never forward it.
}
return CallNextHookEx(_hookId, nCode, wParam, lParam);
}
}