key-mon is useful for teaching or podcasts (video podcasts) to show the current keyboard status and which mouse buttons are pressed. Installation: Download the zip file and unzip into a directory. unzip key-mon*.zip cd key-mon* sudo python setup.py install To run just type: key-mon Note: The script may ask for your super user password at this point to get access to your USB events. You can make the dialog --smaller or --larger. Ex. key-mon --smaller Here's the help: key-mon --help Options: -h, --help show this help message and exit -s, --smaller Make the dialog 25% smaller than normal. -l, --larger Make the dialog 25% larger than normal. -m, --meta Show the meta (windows) key. --nomouse Hide the mouse. --noshift Hide the shift key. --noctrl Hide the ctrl key. --noalt Hide the alt key. --scale=SCALE Scale the dialog. ex. 2.0 is 2 times larger, 0.5 is half the size. --kbdfile=KBD_FILE Use this kbd filename instead running xmodmap. --swap Swap the mouse buttons. --emulate-middle If you presse the left, and right mouse buttons at the same time, show it as a middle mouse button. -d, --debug Output debugging information. -t THEME, --theme=THEME The theme to use when drawing status images -v, --version Show version information and exit. --screenshot=SCREENSHOT Create a screenshot.png and quit. Here are some key features of "key-mon":