v0.5.3

cjpais/Handyv0.5.3Oct 13, 2025by github-actions[bot]

AI Summary

A quality-of-life release resolving bugs; adds options to disable auto-start, change paste methods, and set history limits, while fixing Linux audio and Whisper crashes.

Key Highlights

  • Disable auto-start in advanced settings
  • Change paste method in debug menu
  • Change history limit setting
  • Fixes for Linux (ALSA, Whisper crashes)

New Features

  • Auto-start toggle
  • Paste method change
  • History limit setting

Full Release Notes

0.5.3 is a fairly substantial quality of life release. It should resolve quite a few outstanding bugs

**Features**
* Can now disable auto start in advanced settings
* Ability to change the paste method in debug menu
* Ability to change the history limit setting in debug menu

**Improvements** 
* Overlay shows on the active monitor
* Model loading starts when you press record, so system resources and be freed and still have very low latency
* Better disabled states for Parakeet

**Fixes**
* Translate to English functionality being broken
* Occasional “v” input into text field
* ALSA as default audio sound system on Linux
* Whisper crashing on Linux

**Changes**
* Default to no overlay on Linux to avoid focus issues
* Moved always on mic to debug settings

## What's Changed
* fix: restore translate-to-english functionality by @segudev in https://github.com/cjpais/Handy/pull/173
* add support for changing paste method by @cjpais in https://github.com/cjpais/Handy/pull/187
* Add history limit setting by @sbeckeriv in https://github.com/cjpais/Handy/pull/150
* feat: display overlay on active monitor by @wsxiaoys in https://github.com/cjpais/Handy/pull/175
* fix: delay releasing modifier key on paste to let slow consumers handle the keystroke by @justnero in https://github.com/cjpais/Handy/pull/165
* Load model in parallel to recording by @jacksongoode in https://github.com/cjpais/Handy/pull/181
* use alsa by default on linux by @cjpais in https://github.com/cjpais/Handy/pull/190
* feat(settings): add autostart toggle in advanced settings by @Gr3mIin in https://github.com/cjpais/Handy/pull/177
* Fix Whisper Crashing on Linux + CI Fixes by @cjpais in https://github.com/cjpais/Handy/pull/212

## New Contributors
* @segudev made their first contribution in https://github.com/cjpais/Handy/pull/173
* @sbeckeriv made their first contribution in https://github.com/cjpais/Handy/pull/150
* @wsxiaoys made their first contribution in https://github.com/cjpais/Handy/pull/175
* @justnero made their first contribution in https://github.com/cjpais/Handy/pull/165
* @jacksongoode made their first contribution in https://github.com/cjpais/Handy/pull/181
* @Gr3mIin made their first contribution in https://github.com/cjpais/Handy/pull/177

**Full Changelog**: https://github.com/cjpais/Handy/compare/v0.5.1...v0.5.3