Kuaizi IME vs Thumb-Key
Side-by-side comparison of two open source alternatives
Kuaizi IME
筷字输入法 (Kuaizi IME) is a system based on the combinatorial features of Chinese Pinyin. It is an efficient and fast input method editor, suitable for electronic touchscreen devices. 筷字输入法 (Kuaizi IME) abandones the traditional method of tapping on virtual keyboard keys one by one, it instead offers a swipe input method for Pinyin, combined with the combinatorial features of Pinyin letters. The key layout is designed to make Pinyin input more accurate and convenient. 筷字输入法 (Kuaizi IME) provides editing support such as cursor movement and text selection for the target editor, thereby eliminating the frustration of being unable to accurately position inputs and text due to the small screen size of mobile devices. This further enhances text input and editing efficiency on small-screen devices. User-data generated by 筷字输入法 (Kuaizi IME) is stored locally. It does not connect to the internet and will not collect nor analyze user data or behavior habits. Furthermore, it does not support or provide predictive input nor fuzzy matching mechanisms. To some extent, this input method editor aims to enhance the users' ability to recognize and memorize Chinese characters and Pinyin, ensuring that the reliance on digital tools does not lead to the gradual forgetting and eventual abandonment of 「汉字」(Hànzì, Chinese characters), a treasure of Chinese civilization.
Thumb-Key
Thumb-Key is a privacy-conscious smart keyboard, made specifically for your thumbs. It features a 3x3 grid layout, and uses swipes for the less common letters. Its easy to learn, and designed for fast typing speeds. Instead of relying on profit-driven, privacy-offending word and sentence prediction for accuracy, as do most popular phone keyboards like Gboard and Swiftkey, Thumb-Key uses large keys with predictable positions, to prevent your eyes from hunting and pecking for letters. As the key positions get ingrained into your muscle memory, eventually you'll be able to appromixate the fast speeds of touch-typing, your eyes never having to leave the text edit area. This project is a follow-up to the now unmaintained (and closed-source) MessagEase Keyboard, which is its main inspiration.
| Feature | Kuaizi IME | Thumb-Key |
|---|---|---|
| License | LGPL-3.0-or-later | AGPL-3.0-only |
| Install sources | F-DroidGitHub | F-DroidGitHubIzzyOnDroid |
| Categories | ProductivityKeyboard | ProductivityBrowserKeyboard |
| Features | Ad-FreeOpen SourceNo Tracking | Ad-FreeOpen SourceNo Tracking |
| Platforms | Android | Android |
| Website | ||
| Source code |