CtrlCXV

CtrlCXV is a cross-platform software framework and standard for advanced clipboard operations and keyboard-driven automation. It aims to modernize traditional clipboard handling by providing a protocol, APIs, and runtime components that enable applications to interact with the system clipboard in a structured, secure, and extensible manner. The name draws from the common shortcuts for copy, cut, and paste (Ctrl+C, CtrlX, CtrlV), highlighting their combined workflow in a unified model.

History and development of CtrlCXV began as an open-source collaboration around 2023, with contributors from text editors, terminal emulators, and productivity tools. Early releases focused on establishing a portable clipboard data model and a minimal inter-application messaging layer. Over time, the project added clipboard history, data format negotiation, and cross-application scripting capabilities, along with a lightweight daemon and client libraries for multiple languages.

Technical overview includes a client-server architecture consisting of a runtime daemon on the host system and language bindings for major platforms. Data payloads are serialized in a flexible format such as JSON or CBOR, supporting plain text, rich text, HTML, images, and structured data. The framework emphasizes security through sandboxing, permission controls, and explicit user consent for sensitive data transfers, as well as privacy options and data isolation between applications.

Features commonly associated with CtrlCXV include clipboard history and search, cross-application paste operations, data-format negotiation to preserve fidelity across apps, and a scripting API or domain-specific language for automation. The project has seen limited but growing adoption in developer tools and enterprise environments, with ongoing development driven by a community of contributors and supported by documentation and example integrations.