Bettermouse

Bettermouse is a utility application for macOS that provides smooth mouse scrolling, precise cursor speed control, and configurable links between mouse buttons and the keyboard. Its goal is to replace heavy, resource-intensive device drivers. The application includes numerous customization features for cursor behavior, scrolling, and button assignments, offering detailed control over third-party peripherals within the macOS operating system.

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• Speed and Acceleration Control. Independent adjustment of cursor tracking speed and acceleration curve. Allows for completely disabling pointer acceleration while maintaining a customizable tracking speed, addressing limitations present in recent versions of macOS.
• Smooth Scrolling. Implementation of scrolling with fluid interpolation for conventional mouse wheels. Eliminates the characteristic stepped movement, replicating the scrolling experience of a trackpad or high-precision mice.
• Granular Scrolling Adjustments. Extensive configuration of scrolling parameters: speed, wheel acceleration, horizontal scroll ratio, and zoom activation with a modifier key. Includes the ability to reverse scrolling direction on both axes.
• Per-Application Exceptions. Definition of specific mouse behavior rules for individual applications. Allows creating scrolling and cursor speed profiles that activate automatically when switching to a particular application's window.
• Complete Button Mapping. Reconfiguration of each physical mouse button's function. Assignments can be system actions, single keystrokes or complex combinations (keyboard shortcuts), simulated gestures, and macOS-specific functions.
• Simulated Gestures. Emulation of trackpad or Magic Mouse gestures by assigning them to mouse buttons. Includes multi-finger swipe gestures for back/forward navigation, Exposé, Mission Control, and switching workspaces.
• Click-Through Action. Functionality allowing clicks on inactive or background windows without bringing them to the front. Useful for quick interactions with floating panels or reference windows while working in a primary application.
• Behavior Modifiers. Dynamic change of mouse function while holding a modifier key (Command, Option, Control, Shift, Fn). Allows a single button to perform different actions based on context, multiplying the device's capabilities.
• Native Horizontal Scrolling. Activation and calibration of lateral scrolling. Compatible with wheels that include lateral tilt or with assigned gestures, enabling navigation through timelines or spreadsheets horizontally.
• System Acceleration Override. Interception and overriding of pointer acceleration algorithms applied by the macOS operating system. Ensures that acceleration and speed settings within Bettermouse are applied consistently, without system interference.
• Quick Configuration Profiles. Creation and fast switching between multiple predefined setting sets. Designed to adapt mouse behavior for different tasks, such as graphic design, coding, gaming, or web browsing.
• Visual Speed Indicator. Optional on-screen display showing the cursor's instantaneous speed. Serves as a diagnostic and tuning tool to fine-tune acceleration and tracking speed parameters precisely.
• Device Sleep Prevention. Maintains the mouse connection to prevent it from entering low-power mode or disconnecting due to inactivity. Resolves latency or slow reconnection issues with certain wireless mouse models.
• Command-Line Interface (CLI). Control of basic application functions via terminal commands. Facilitates task automation, such as switching profiles through scripts or integrating mouse configuration into development workflows.
• Universal Peripheral Compatibility. Works with any third-party mouse or trackpad recognized by the macOS HID system. Does not require manufacturer-specific drivers, centralizing the management of multiple devices into a single utility.

The Bettermouse application was created by independent developers focused on improving the experience with input hardware on macOS. Its development began as a response to the lack of native options for configuring non-Apple mice and the bloat of official drivers from brands like Logitech. Work on the application formally started around the year 2019. The program is written primarily in the Swift programming language, leveraging native Cocoa and AppKit frameworks to ensure deep integration and efficient performance within the macOS ecosystem.

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