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Show HN: Vim-Like Layer for Xorg and Wayland

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Re: Show HN: Vim-Like Layer for Xorg and Wayland

#41

Post by npmisdown »

I'm fan of heavy key mapping customization to boost productivity.

The most productive remapping so far which I made is to globally remap (via xkb) Left Alt + HJKL to respective arrow keys. Works in all GUI applications which rely on arrow keys for navigation, plus standard Ctrl + Shift + Left Alt + H (Left Arrow) works to select previous word in text fields (e.g. in browser).

Next one is to remap Left Ctrl to Left Shift and to press it with upper side of the palm just below pinky (not sure how this part of the hand is called correctly) instead of utilizing finger for that. Works best on mechanical keyboards without bevels.

Also I find quite useful to remap keys 5-0 to Right Shift + Q (5), W (6), E (7), R (8), D (9), F (0). I find these keys are easier to reach and type without a mistake instead of using standard 5-0 keys which you should stretch your fingers to type. For example, to type "()" I use Left Ctrl (remapped to Shift) + Right Shift + D, F which is easier to type without fingers leaving home row.

Re: Show HN: Vim-Like Layer for Xorg and Wayland

#43

Post by Fnoord »

npmisdown wrote: post #41

I'm fan of heavy key mapping customization to boost productivity. The most productive remapping so far which I made is to globally remap (via xkb) Left Alt + HJKL to respective arrow keys. Works in all GUI applications which rely on arrow keys for navigation, plus standard Ctrl + Shift + Left Alt + H (Left Arrow) works to select previous word in text fields (e.g. in browser). Next one is to remap Left Ctrl to Left Sh…

I use Hammerspoon and Karabiner Elements on macOS to rebind keys (including the examples you gave). There's some examples and repositories available for these applications.

On Windows, I use AutoHotKey, though mainly for gaming (be aware it can get you banned on some games though; investigate this beforehand).

On Linux, I have a bit more difficulty with all of this because:

1) There's no standard application or configuration or even desktop. As of now I mainly use Gnome, but my preference would be to use more lightweight WM/DE on some of my devices.

2) I sometimes use a Linux desktop in a VM, from macOS.

Re: Show HN: Vim-Like Layer for Xorg and Wayland

#44

Post by renke1 »

Fnoord wrote: post #40
renke1 wrote: post #18

I am also using a custom keyboard layout (basically the movement layer from the NEO layout + left alt → left ctrl, right alt → left alt, caps lock → esc). Initially it was implemented as xmodmap, then as xkb layout and finally as C program using Interception Tools [0]. I had problems with both xmodmap and xkb where it wouldn't work in certain applications; Interception tools works everywhere (even in VMs and outside…

I'm looking for a way to have a key press becoming a repeated key press (for example 'a' producing 'a' every 150 ms). Is that possible with this software? I'm able to do it with AutoHotKey, but I'm unable to get it to work in Wine.

I am pretty sure this is possible. The program called by Interception Tools can basically do anything (including being stateful), it just reads input events, rewrites it, ignores it, or raises entirely different input events etc. You could probably move your mouse with arrow keys if you wanted to.

Re: Show HN: Vim-Like Layer for Xorg and Wayland

#45

Post by SuperPaintMan »

Legogris wrote: post #38
SuperPaintMan wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>build and make it Depends on how you define 'build' here, I'm assuming you mean come to what would become the final design for GergoPlex. That took about a year and a half, my first two designs (Gergo and Georgi respectively) sought to improve on my issues with the ErgoDox (mostly size, PCB-forehead, height, thumb-cluster). After a year of using Gergo and diving into QMK and a failed attempt at picking up stenograph…

Oh wow, I thought you were replicating it off of the site, not the actual designer of it! That's awesome, I've seen it before and been curious to try to make it myself. Helix keyboard is pretty popular here (Japan) but never tried it more than brushing them (pre-COVID lol) in the mech specialty shop in Akihabara. I'll definitely make the plunge at some point, just gauging expectations on how roughly much I should exp…

Skip on the Helix and grab something like the Crkbd (Make sure it's a model where the outer column can snap off) or the MiniAxe, Yushakobo carries both I believe. Also check out the 'Self Made Keyboards In Japan' Discord server as there are tons of boards available to you domestically via booth! Worst case, Yushakobo should have everything you need to get a build done (and even has a wonderful selection of blank keycaps), go hit their workshop! :)

No worries, we spend all day using these devices, the fact that we're not using them in a highly configurable fashion pains me. Make technology work for you, not the other way around

Re: Show HN: Vim-Like Layer for Xorg and Wayland

#46

Post by Legogris »

SuperPaintMan wrote: post #45
Legogris wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh wow, I thought you were replicating it off of the site, not the actual designer of it! That's awesome, I've seen it before and been curious to try to make it myself. Helix keyboard is pretty popular here (Japan) but never tried it more than brushing them (pre-COVID lol) in the mech specialty shop in Akihabara. I'll definitely make the plunge at some point, just gauging expectations on how roughly much I should exp…

Skip on the Helix and grab something like the Crkbd (Make sure it's a model where the outer column can snap off) or the MiniAxe, Yushakobo carries both I believe. Also check out the 'Self Made Keyboards In Japan' Discord server as there are tons of boards available to you domestically via booth! Worst case, Yushakobo should have everything you need to get a build done (and even has a wonderful selection of blank keyc…

Wow, the MiniAxe LP looks exactly like what I think I want (despite the Crkbd being much more aesthetic IMO). I realized over 1y+ on a brown-switch mech that despite loving the layout, I'm just struggling typing properly in a way I don't on a normal Thinkpad laptop chiclet. Just really hard to figure out how switches actually feel IRL even when trying a switch tester.

Had completely missed it, thanks for the pointer :)

Re: Show HN: Vim-Like Layer for Xorg and Wayland

#48

Post by renke1 »

renke1 wrote: post #18

I am also using a custom keyboard layout (basically the movement layer from the NEO layout + left alt → left ctrl, right alt → left alt, caps lock → esc). Initially it was implemented as xmodmap, then as xkb layout and finally as C program using Interception Tools [0]. I had problems with both xmodmap and xkb where it wouldn't work in certain applications; Interception tools works everywhere (even in VMs and outside…

Here is my layout for people who wonder how it is implemented.

https://gist.github.com/renke/e08a6822df0e26b314288378db9d77...

Re: Show HN: Vim-Like Layer for Xorg and Wayland

#49

Post by linsomniac »

Legogris wrote: post #34
SuperPaintMan wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Was thinking that the whole time I was reading this! I actually have my layout optimized for i3/Vim-controls and it's the default for GergoPlex. I used to use xmodmap hacks but I got sick of maintaining changes across/OS's, having it on the keyboard makes it so much easier. Only downside is carrying around a QMK keyboard! Layout: https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rRS_TOYuIQQ/XhRERox3moI/AAAAAAABE... GergoPlex: https://www.g…

Just curious, how much time would you say it took you to 1) build and make it, 2) get used to the layout?

I made the transition from a Thinkpad keyboard to an ErgoDox 3-ish years ago. For me I'd say it took about 2 weeks to be fully back to normal with it, and about a week to stop feeling like I couldn't type.

In my case, I had some bad habits I was needing or wanting to get rid of at the same time: I typed "b" with the wrong finger, I always used my right pinky for shift, I always looked when typing numbers so I never really got to touch-typing them, sometimes I would also peek for regular letters or keys, just to make sure I was where I thought I was.

If you have fewer bad habits, it might take less time. If you have more... :-)

Re: Show HN: Vim-Like Layer for Xorg and Wayland

#50

Post by simias »

dlkmp wrote: post #3

I've done a similar thing at the hardware level using a QMK layer. The main benefit for me is being able to use VIM movement keys in every text input. As I'm using a dual boot setup, it's also pretty handy to have the mapping directly embedded in the keyboard firmware.

I did the same thing on my Ergodox with QMK, only with emacs/readline bindings. control-M for enter, control-A for beginning of line, control-E for end of line, control-N for next line, control-H for backspace etc...

It makes using those clunky web edit boxes (such as the one I'm typing this into right now) somewhat bearable.

Getting a fancy ergonomic programmable keyboards is one of the best decisions I've made over the past few years. It's so much more comfortable in the long run.

I'm also a big fan of "space cadet shift", which makes left and right shift input ( and ) when pressed on their own. I also have a dual-function caps lock: when pressed on its own it's Escape, when chorded with an other key it's control. You can do that in software with xcape for those who want to give it a try:

    xcape -t 500 -e 'Shift_L=parenleft;Shift_R=parenright;Control_L=Escape'
You'll have to swap left control and caps lock using xmodmap or setxkbmap as well.

And for those who are curious to see what a QMK config looks like, it's fairly straightforward (this one is a WIP, there are a few problems with it, but it gives you an idea):

https://github.com/simias/qmk_firmware/blob/372b71ca90df01b5...

That's of course assuming that your board is already supported, adding support for a new board is a bit trickier and requires some embedded C know-how.

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