SelectBridge
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SelectBridge is a lightweight desktop utility that forwards text selected in supported desktop applications to a configurable URL target. It runs as a native tray application on Windows and as a headless host on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The default target opens a GoldenDict-ng popup through `goldendict://`.
## Features
- Forward globally selected text to a configurable URL target.
- Monitor global selections through [selection-hook](https://github.com/0xfullex/selection-hook).
- Allow pausing the selection hook and toggling clipboard fallback from the Windows tray.
- Support immediate, modifier-key, custom-shortcut, icon, and dot trigger modes.
- Open a [GoldenDict-ng](https://github.com/xiaoyifang/goldendict-ng) popup or any custom URL template.
- Provide a lightweight Windows native tray host and a cross-platform headless host.
- Support Windows x64 and ARM64 Setup and Portable packages.
- Protect against duplicate selections, rapid repeats, and overlong text.
SelectBridge does not provide dictionaries or translation services. It forwards selected text to the target application or service you configure.
## Install
### Scoop
```powershell
scoop bucket add hoarfrost https://github.com/k4if3ng/hoarfrost
scoop install hoarfrost/select-bridge
```
Update an existing Scoop installation with:
```powershell
scoop update select-bridge
```
### Windows packages
Download the package for your architecture from [GitHub Releases](../../releases/latest)
## Usage
1. Start SelectBridge.
2. Select text in a supported desktop application.
3. SelectBridge forwards the text according to the configured trigger mode.
The default `immediate` mode forwards automatically. Modifier and custom-shortcut modes wait for the configured key combination. Windows native mode also supports floating `icon` and `dot` indicators with click or hover activation.
## Windows tray settings
The tray icon opens the same menu with either a left or right click. The first item changes between **Pause forwarding** and **Resume forwarding** according to the current state. Use the menu to select the lookup target, trigger mode, indicator size and activation, language, startup behavior, update checks, and configuration actions.
For complete Windows behavior and troubleshooting, see the [Windows guide](docs/WINDOWS.md).
## Custom URL templates
Open **Lookup target → Set URL template…** to configure another application or service. A template must:
- start with a valid URI scheme;
- contain exactly one `{text}` placeholder;
- contain no whitespace or control characters;
- be no longer than 2,048 characters.
Selected text replaces `{text}` after `encodeURIComponent` encoding. Saving a valid template immediately selects **Custom URL**.
## Configuration and updates
Configuration paths:
- Setup: `%APPDATA%\select-bridge\config.json`
- Portable: `\data\config.json`
- Other platforms: `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/select-bridge/config.json` or `~/.config/select-bridge/config.json`
Use `SELECT_BRIDGE_CONFIG` to select another configuration path. `enableClipboardFallback` controls whether selection-hook may use simulated copy shortcuts as a last-resort text retrieval method; it defaults to `true` for compatibility and can be toggled from the Windows tray. Select **Settings → Check for updates…** to compare the installed version with the latest stable GitHub Release. SelectBridge never downloads or installs updates automatically.
## FAQ
### Why does selecting text in a terminal show `^C` or interrupt the command?
Clipboard fallback is enabled by default. When Windows accessibility APIs cannot read the selection, it may simulate `Ctrl+C`; terminals often interpret that as an interrupt. Disable **Settings → Clipboard fallback** to prevent simulated copy. Applications that rely on clipboard retrieval may then stop producing selections. See the [Windows FAQ](docs/WINDOWS.md#FAQ) for details.
## Development
```shell
pnpm install
pnpm build
pnpm build:native
pnpm test
```
See the [development guide](docs/DEVELOPMENT.md) for environment setup, native builds, testing, and packaging.
Documentation:
- [Architecture](docs/ARCHITECTURE.md)
- [Headless host](docs/HEADLESS.md)
- [Development](docs/DEVELOPMENT.md)
- [Windows guide](docs/WINDOWS.md)
- [Changelog](CHANGELOG.md)
## Open-source acknowledgements
Global text-selection monitoring is powered by [selection-hook](https://github.com/0xfullex/selection-hook). The default lookup experience works with [GoldenDict-ng](https://github.com/xiaoyifang/goldendict-ng) through its `goldendict://` protocol. Thanks to these projects and their maintainers for making SelectBridge possible.
## Links
- [LINUX DO](https://linux.do/) — A community for developers and technology enthusiasts.
## License
[MIT](LICENSE)