Rustype is an open-source Vietnamese input method (MIT license), written in Rust, supporting Telex and VNI. On Linux, Rustype runs as a complete input method for GNOME, replacing ibus-daemon.

Typing Vietnamese on Linux often encounters issues with repeated letters and incorrect tonal marks, especially in the browser's address bar, where automatic suggestions can malfunction, turning "Trần" into "Traần." Traditional input methods also require many background processes and sometimes manual configuration. Rustype helps type correctly right within those fields and installs with just one command.

Main features

• The Chrome address bar is not underlined, automatic suggestions and the Enter key still work as usual.
• Easy word correction: if you accidentally type extra characters that remove the tonal marks, you just need to use Backspace and type again, no need to delete the entire word.
• Automatically restores English words when typed incorrectly, supports shortcuts and remembers the Vietnamese input state for each application.
• Input method menu right on the GNOME panel and a separate settings application.
• The input engine does not connect to the internet, does not log keystrokes, automatically bypasses the password field on Linux.

Vietnamese users on Ubuntu or Debian with GNOME on Wayland, especially developers working a lot with the terminal, browser, and VS Code, need a lightweight input method that does not cause typing errors.

Main platform: Linux with GNOME on Wayland (.deb package). Not yet supported on KDE, Sway, Hyprland, or Flatpak applications. There are versions for Windows and macOS, but they are less verified and not digitally signed. Installation on Ubuntu/Debian: download the .deb file from GitHub Releases (github.com/tr-nam/rustype), run "sudo apt install ./rustype_*.deb", then press Super+Space to switch to Rustype. No need to log out, no additional configuration required.

Rustype combines both the IBus bus and engine into a single process, instead of ibus-daemon with multiple child processes. Measured on the development machine, Rustype uses about 3 MB of RAM compared to about 59 MB for ibus-daemon and its child processes, and the processing time for a keystroke through the socket is only about half. Since it still adheres to the IBus protocol, GNOME and applications do not need to change anything.