lel

Python X11 transcription daemon that records audio, runs Whisper, logs the transcript, and can optionally run AI post-processing before injecting text.

Requirements

• X11 (not Wayland)
• ffmpeg
• faster-whisper
• Tray icon deps: gtk3
• i3 window manager (focus metadata via i3 IPC)
• Python deps: pillow, python-xlib, faster-whisper, PyGObject, i3ipc

Python Daemon

Install Python deps:

pip install -r requirements.txt

Run:

python3 src/leld.py --config ~/.config/lel/config.json

Config

Create ~/.config/lel/config.json:

{
  "hotkey": "Cmd+m",
  "ffmpeg_input": "pulse:default",
  "ffmpeg_path": "",
  "whisper_model": "base",
  "whisper_lang": "en",
  "whisper_device": "cpu",
  "record_timeout_sec": 120,
  "injection_backend": "clipboard",

  "context_capture": {
    "provider": "i3ipc",
    "on_focus_change": "abort"
  },
  "context_rules": [
    {
      "tag": "terminal",
      "match": { "class": "Alacritty" },
      "ai_enabled": false
    },
    {
      "tag": "chat",
      "match": { "title_contains": "Slack" },
      "ai_prompt_file": "/home/thales/.config/lel/prompts/slack.txt"
    }
  ],

  "ai_enabled": true,
  "ai_model": "llama3.2:3b",
  "ai_temperature": 0.0,
  "ai_system_prompt_file": "",
  "ai_base_url": "http://localhost:11434/v1/chat/completions",
  "ai_api_key": "",
  "ai_timeout_sec": 20
}

Env overrides:

• WHISPER_MODEL, WHISPER_LANG, WHISPER_DEVICE
• WHISPER_FFMPEG_IN
• LEL_RECORD_TIMEOUT_SEC, LEL_HOTKEY, LEL_INJECTION_BACKEND
• LEL_FFMPEG_PATH
• LEL_AI_ENABLED, LEL_AI_MODEL, LEL_AI_TEMPERATURE, LEL_AI_SYSTEM_PROMPT_FILE
• LEL_AI_BASE_URL, LEL_AI_API_KEY, LEL_AI_TIMEOUT_SEC
• LEL_CONTEXT_PROVIDER, LEL_CONTEXT_ON_FOCUS_CHANGE

systemd user service

mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
cp src/leld.py ~/.local/bin/leld.py
cp systemd/lel.service ~/.config/systemd/user/lel.service
systemctl --user daemon-reload
systemctl --user enable --now lel

Usage

• Press the hotkey once to start recording.
• Press it again to stop and transcribe.
• The transcript is logged to stderr.

Injection backends:

• clipboard: copy to clipboard and inject via Ctrl+Shift+V (GTK clipboard + XTest)
• injection: type the text with simulated keypresses (XTest)

AI provider:

• Generic OpenAI-compatible chat API at ai_base_url

Context capture:

• context_capture stores the focused window at hotkey time (via i3 IPC).
• If focus changes before injection, the workflow aborts (interpreted as a cancel).
• context_rules lets you match on app/title and override AI/injection behavior.

Control:

make run