- Home
- Typing Tutor Software
- GNU Typist
GNU Typist
What it is
GNU Typist is a free typing tutor for Linux and Windows. It helps individuals and schools learn accurate typing and build skills through guided practice. Lessons cover English QWERTY, Dvorak, and Colemak keyboards, with additional material in Czech, Russian, and Spanish and simpler exercises in German, French, and Norwegian. Practice includes drills and speed tests, with results available in words per minute or characters per minute. The text-mode interface uses an arrow-key menu and also accepts vi movement keys. Users can change existing tutorials or create new lessons with GNU Typist’s scripting language. The manual documents an Emacs mode with syntax highlighting and lesson-editing commands, plus Vim syntax highlighting for lesson files. The typefortune utility provides practice text from the fortune program. GNU Typist is released under the GNU General Public License. The project welcomes bug reports, suggestions, patches, and lessons by email and offers a mailing list. Precompiled Windows binaries may have a multi-byte input problem noted by the project.
For and against
For
- Free GNU General Public License software
- Lessons cover several keyboard layouts
- Drills and speed tests show typing rates
- Custom lessons use a scripting language
- Runs on Linux and Windows
Against
- Text-mode interface may feel utilitarian
- Windows binaries may have a multi-byte input problem
- No free trial is listed
The verdict
GNU Typist combines multilingual guided lessons, measurable drills, and lesson customization in a free package. Its text interface and noted Windows binary issue are important considerations before choosing it.
Who it suits
GNU Typist suits individuals and schools seeking structured typing practice on Linux or Windows. It also fits users who want customizable lessons or text-based controls.
Plans and prices
GNU Typist
GNU General Public License · No paid plans listed
Read 11 Oct 2026 · gnu.org
On the record
- Audience
- The stated project goal is to help individuals and schools learn or teach typing.gnu.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Custom lessons
- Users can modify tutorials or create new ones using the program’s scripting language.gnu.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Download note
- The project page says available precompiled Windows binaries may have a multi-byte input problem that was expected to be addressed in a later release.gnu.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Editor support
- The manual documents an Emacs major mode with syntax highlighting and commands for editing lessons, and Vim syntax highlighting for lesson files.gnu.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The manual describes typefortune, a utility that lets users practice with text from the fortune program.gnu.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Interface
- The program uses a text mode interface with an arrow key based menu, and also supports vi movement keys.gnu.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Lessons
- It includes tutorials for English QWERTY, Dvorak and Colemak keyboards, plus lessons in Czech, Russian and Spanish and simpler exercises in German, French and Norwegian.gnu.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- License
- The project page describes GNU Typist as free software released under the GNU General Public License.gnu.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- GNU Typist is a typing tutor for learning correct typing and improving typing skills through practice.gnu.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Scoring
- Typing exercises include drills and speed tests, and the manual says results can be displayed in words per minute or characters per minute.gnu.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project invites bug reports, suggestions, patches and new lessons at [email protected] and offers a mailing list at that address.gnu.org · read 11 Oct 2026
