Keep that Mouse Moving: Simple Anti-Idle Utility

Press Release

Ataiva Releases Keep that Mouse Moving: The Simplest Solution to Screen Locking

For immediate release - June 2, 2019

Sub-headline

Keep that Mouse Moving (KTMM) provides a lightweight, native solution to prevent screen locking during presentations, long meetings, or remote sessions without requiring browser scripts or hardware dongles.

The Problem

Computer users frequently encounter an annoying and disruptive issue: automatic screen locking during important activities like presentations, virtual meetings, or when monitoring long-running processes. Corporate security policies often enforce short lock timeouts that cannot be changed by users. Existing solutions like browser-based scripts have security limitations, physical “mouse jiggler” devices require hardware purchases, and changing system settings may violate IT policies. This creates a frustrating experience that interrupts workflow and productivity.

The Solution

Keep that Mouse Moving (KTMM) addresses this challenge with an elegant, lightweight utility that simulates subtle mouse movement at regular intervals, preventing screen locking without disrupting normal computer use. Available in Python, Java, and Go versions, KTMM runs natively on the user’s system without requiring browser tabs, administrative privileges, or hardware purchases. The utility works in the background with minimal resource usage and can be easily started or stopped as needed.

Community Quote

“KTMM has been a lifesaver during my workday,” says Michael Chen, a software developer at Enterprise Solutions Inc. “Our corporate policy locks screens after just 3 minutes of inactivity, which was constantly interrupting me during code reviews and virtual meetings. Browser-based solutions didn’t work with our security restrictions, and I couldn’t modify system settings. KTMM runs quietly in the background, uses almost no resources, and keeps my sessions active exactly when I need it. The fact that it’s available in multiple programming languages meant I could use the version that worked best in our environment.”

How It Works

Keep that Mouse Moving employs a simple yet effective approach to prevent screen locking:

The application runs as a native process on your computer and uses platform-specific APIs to simulate subtle mouse movements at regular intervals. These movements are designed to be minimal—just enough to signal activity to the operating system without disrupting your work or moving the cursor noticeably across the screen. The utility requires no special permissions, doesn’t modify system settings, and uses negligible system resources.

KTMM is available in three language implementations—Python, Java, and Go—allowing users to choose the version that best fits their environment and requirements. Each version provides the same core functionality with a simple interface to start and stop the anti-idle behavior.

Availability

Keep that Mouse Moving is available now as an open source project under the MIT license. Users can download the source code from GitHub in their preferred implementation:

• Python version
• Java version
• Go version

Get Started Today

Keep your screen active when you need it most. Visit the GitHub repositories to download Keep that Mouse Moving and say goodbye to disruptive screen locks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Project Questions

What is Keep that Mouse Moving?
Keep that Mouse Moving (KTMM) is a lightweight utility that prevents your computer screen from locking or going into sleep mode by simulating subtle mouse movements at regular intervals. It’s designed to be a simple, resource-efficient solution for keeping your computer active during presentations, meetings, or when monitoring long-running processes.

Why was Keep that Mouse Moving created?
KTMM was created to solve the common frustration of screens locking during important activities when users cannot modify system sleep settings due to corporate policies or lack of administrative privileges. Unlike browser-based solutions that have security limitations or physical devices that require purchases, KTMM provides a simple software solution that works across different environments.

What makes Keep that Mouse Moving different from other solutions?
KTMM stands out from alternatives in several ways:

• Native application: Runs directly on your system without browser dependencies
• Multiple implementations: Available in Python, Java, and Go to suit different environments
• Minimal resource usage: Uses negligible CPU and memory
• No special permissions: Doesn’t require administrative privileges
• Open source: Free to use and modify under the MIT license
• No hardware required: Software-only solution without additional purchases

Is Keep that Mouse Moving legal and allowed in my workplace?
KTMM is a legitimate utility for preventing screen locking during valid work activities like presentations or monitoring processes. However, you should check your organization’s IT policies before using any anti-idle tool. Many organizations allow such utilities for legitimate purposes, but some may have policies against them. KTMM doesn’t bypass security measures or authentication—it simply simulates user activity.

Technical Questions

How does Keep that Mouse Moving work?
KTMM uses platform-specific APIs to simulate mouse movement events at regular intervals. These movements are minimal—just enough to signal activity to the operating system without disrupting your work. The application runs as a standard process and doesn’t modify system settings or require special permissions.

Which operating systems does Keep that Mouse Moving support?
KTMM supports:

• Windows (all versions)
• macOS
• Linux distributions with X11 or Wayland

The specific implementation (Python, Java, or Go) may have different platform compatibility, so choose the version that best matches your environment.

Will Keep that Mouse Moving interfere with my actual mouse usage?
No, KTMM is designed to make subtle movements that won’t interfere with normal computer use. The simulated movements are minimal and won’t move your cursor across the screen or disrupt your work. You can continue using your computer normally while KTMM runs in the background.

Does Keep that Mouse Moving consume significant system resources?
No, KTMM is extremely lightweight. The application uses minimal CPU (typically less than 0.1%) and memory (a few MB at most). It’s designed to have negligible impact on system performance, even on older or resource-constrained computers.

Implementation Questions

How do I install and run the Python version of KTMM?
To install and run the Python version:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/ao/ktmm.git
cd ktmm

# Install dependencies (if needed)
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Run the application
python ktmm.py

How do I install and run the Java version of KTMM?
To install and run the Java version:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/ao/ktmm-java.git
cd ktmm-java

# Build the application
javac KTMM.java

# Run the application
java KTMM

How do I install and run the Go version of KTMM?
To install and run the Go version:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/ao/ktmm-go.git
cd ktmm-go

# Build the application
go build

# Run the application
./ktmm-go

Can I run Keep that Mouse Moving at system startup?
Yes, you can configure KTMM to run at system startup:

• Windows: Create a shortcut to the application in the Startup folder
• macOS: Add the application to Login Items in System Preferences
• Linux: Add a startup entry in your desktop environment’s settings or use systemd user services

Community & Support Questions

How can I contribute to Keep that Mouse Moving?
Contributions to KTMM are welcome! You can contribute by:

• Submitting bug reports or feature requests via GitHub issues
• Creating pull requests for code improvements or new features
• Improving documentation
• Sharing the project with others who might find it useful
• Creating implementations in additional programming languages

Where can I get help if I encounter issues with KTMM?
Support for KTMM is available through:

• GitHub issues for bug reports and feature requests
• Documentation in the GitHub repositories
• Community discussions in the repositories’ Discussions sections

Is Keep that Mouse Moving actively maintained?
Yes, KTMM is actively maintained across all three implementations. The project receives updates for bug fixes, compatibility improvements, and occasional new features. Being open source, the community also contributes to keeping the project up-to-date.

Can I use Keep that Mouse Moving in a commercial environment?
Yes, KTMM is released under the MIT license, which allows for use in commercial environments without restrictions. You can use it freely in your workplace, though as mentioned earlier, you should ensure it complies with your organization’s IT policies.

Available Implementations

How to Use

Using Keep that Mouse Moving is simple:

1. Clone the repository for your preferred implementation
2. Build the application if necessary
3. Run the application
4. The utility will run in the background, preventing your screen from locking
5. To stop the application, close the window or terminate the process

Use Cases