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Function keys productivity trick

mxgrn.com

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Re: Function keys productivity trick

#191

Post by yesbut »

hprotagonist wrote: post #6

~/.config/i3/config: # emacsclient set $em_daemon ~/.local/bin/em # make a quick launcher for specific things I do all the time bindsym $mod+o mode "spotlight" mode "spotlight" { ## specific files in a new emacs buffer # dired in home bindsym d exec $em_daemon ~/; mode "default" # ibuffer bindsym e exec $em_daemon --eval "(ibuffer)"; mode "default" # # guaranteed new scratch buffer bindsym s exec $em_daemon --eval '(…

This is what I was thinking. Someone needs to introduce the OP author to a tiling window manager.

Re: Function keys productivity trick

#192

Post by nerdix »

nine_k wrote: post #137
alikrhlwirjnklj wrote: post #36

> You're using function keys wrong You are using computers wrong. Apple is the only one that lacks this. Windows and most linux WM have this for at least 20 years! windows you just use WIN+[1,2,3,4...] to alternate between your quick launch apps. Linux obviously you have a myriad of options. Including the top comment here now about using virtual desktops which is even better than application (but you can mix them too…

I'm always puzzled by the stubbornness with which Apple refuses to make window management on macOS ergonomic. They think about so many subtler points, they can't fail to notice the elephant in their room. It bothers me every time I have to use macOS. I wonder who should leave the macOS team to have this finally addressed, like Jony Ive had to leave to make the Macbook hardware reasonable again.

I've mentioned in a previous discussion here that I believe that macOS has the worst UX of all the major OSes. And that belief is mostly because of how horrendous window management is (and Finder but that's a different discussion altogether). The lack of hotkeys for switching workspaces was one of my biggest gripes.

And the culture that has formed around macOS users is to just accept it and buy numerous third apps to fix things that should be a standard feature of the OS.

Re: Function keys productivity trick

#193

Post by codethief »

aendruk wrote: post #179
codethief wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not if you suffer from RSI and you want to use as few key strokes as possible. I really don't understand this trend towards minimalist keyboards. I want more keys, not fewer. I mean, a pianist also doesn't put everything on their home row.

Funny, RSI of a different kind is what pushed me to a minimalist keyboard. I pay the cost of increased complexity to avoid the strain of reaching distant keys.

That I do understand. But, for instance, I reach for my F keys with my entire hand, not by doing funny & painful movements with my fingers.

Re: Function keys productivity trick

#195

Post by downboots »

hbn wrote: post #9

Can people hit their function keys without looking at the keyboard? Sure, hitting F5 to go to your terminal is less keystrokes than e.g. Cmd+tab+tab, but I can't hit anything in the function row without glancing down at my keyboard. And I put a lot of value in looking at my keyboard as little as possible

at the risk of ruining a perfect keyboard you may super glue some tactile feedback

Re: Function keys productivity trick

#196

Post by mxgrn »

nine_k wrote: post #133
teo_zero wrote: post #125

I couldn't disagree more. My mental sanity depends on some fixed beliefs. One of those is that every key sequence not involving the Win key is sent to and handled by the application in focus. Including F-keys, which many applications expect, in any case. Ex: F2=edit cell, F9=recalculate in Excel. Global actions handled by the SO or DE must involve Win. Ex: Win+L lock screen. And yes, Redmond-imposed Alt-Tab is an abo…

The idea is not centered around F-keys. The idea is to have fast shortcuts to every app you need regularly. You can use any other keys. The problem, of course, is that all keys are already taken. Even F-keys are normally taken by volume control, playback control, brightness control, etc, and you have to press Fn-F1 to access F1. There are no spare keys, unless you buy a dedicated keypad. So I, as likely everyone else…

> you have to press Fn-F1 to access F1

Yep, by default, but you can change that in the settings. The the Fn modifier isn't required.

Re: Function keys productivity trick

#197

Post by mxgrn »

teo_zero wrote: post #125

I couldn't disagree more. My mental sanity depends on some fixed beliefs. One of those is that every key sequence not involving the Win key is sent to and handled by the application in focus. Including F-keys, which many applications expect, in any case. Ex: F2=edit cell, F9=recalculate in Excel. Global actions handled by the SO or DE must involve Win. Ex: Win+L lock screen. And yes, Redmond-imposed Alt-Tab is an abo…

I see your point, but personally I never liked following fixed beliefs if in the long run I could benefit from dropping them. As an example, that's why I also learned Dvorak (which was much more painful than re-learning F-keys).
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